Sister M. Avellina Ryan, IHM
Sister M. Avellina Ryan, IHM, of the Congregation of Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died on Saturday, June 2, 1990, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania, after an illness.
She was born on August 18, 1899 in Bor du Lac, North Dakota; and given the name Antoinette. She was daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Ann Hoffman Ryan. Antoinette was a class of 1919 graduate of the IHM Academy located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. She entered the IHM Congregation on November 30, 1919, received the religious habit on August 2, 1920, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1922.
Sister Avellina served as a teacher at Immaculate Conception Elementary School in West Pittston, PA and St. Joseph School in Renovo, PA. She then was sent to the IHM Academy in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, as a secondary teacher and supervisor of resident students for twenty-three years.
Sister Avellina served as principal and local superior at schools located in Masontown and Pittsburgh, PA; and at the IHM Academy in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. She served as local superior for two years at the IHM Motherhouse in Scranton, PA.
Sister also served on the support staff at the Marian Convent and the IHM Generalate, both in Scranton, PA; and at Our Lady of Grace Center in Manhasset, NY.
From 1981 until the time of her death, Sister Avellina served in prayer ministry at the Marian Convent.
She earned a Bachelor's degree in education from Marywood College.
She is preceded in death by two brothers, John Ryan and Reverend William Ryan, SJ; and three sisters, Theresa Riggs, Sister Mary Clement, DP, and Josephine Ryan Johnson.
She is survived by nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be Monday with Mass of Christian Burial at ten o'clock in the Marian Convent chapel. Interment will be at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, Pennsylvania. Friends may call at the Marian Convent on Sunday afternoon or evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.
Class of 1919 - graduation photo of Antoinette Ryan, IHM Academy, Coeur d'Alene, ID
photo credit: Mr. Bill Kapaun
Archival Remembrance of Sister M. Avellina Ryan:
After teaching in the elementary school at W. Pittston, Sister Avellina began a career as secondary teacher in Renovo, Pennsylvania. She then was missioned at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, as a secondary teacher and supervisor of resident students for twenty-three years. After serving as principal and local superior at Masontown and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sister Avellina returned in those capacities to the IHM Academy in Coeur d'Alene in 1961. During an interim of two years, she was missioned at the Motherhouse at Marywood as local superior. In 1971, Sister Avellina returned from the West to serve on the staffs of the Marian Convent and the Generalate at Marywood, and in Manhasset at Our Lady of Grace Center. She retired to the Marian Convent in 1981.
