Sister M. Lois Roche, IHM
Sister M. Lois Roche, IHM of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Tuesday, December 28, 2004, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.
She was born on September 10, 1915 in Scranton, PA, and given the name Alice. She was the daughter of the late Patrick and Laura McCrea Roche. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1935, made temporary profession of her vows on August 2, 1937, and final profession of her vows on August 1, 1940.
Sister Lois served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Matthew Elementary School in East Stroudsburg, PA, from 1937 to 1942; St. Rose Elementary School in Carbondale, PA, from 1942 to 1948; St. Mary Mount Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA from 1950 to 1951; St. Paul High School in Scranton, PA, from 1951 to 1958; Bishop O'Reilly High School in Kingston, PA, from 1970 to 1975; Bishop Hannan High School in Scranton, PA, from 1975 to 1979 and 1982 to 1991; and Bishop Klonowski High School in Scranton, PA, from 1979 to 1982. She also served at schools located in Baltimore, MD and Washington, NC.
Sister Lois was principal at the following schools: St. Ann Elementary and High Schools in Scranton, PA, from 1962 to 1964; Seton Catholic Elementary and High Schools in Pittston, PA, from 1964 to 1966; Bishop Hannan High School in Scranton, PA, from 1966 to 1968; and St. Leo High School in Ashley, PA, from 1968 to 1970.
She also served as an instructor at the Educational Enrichment Institute at the IHM Center in Scranton, PA, from 1991 to 2001.
From 2001 until the time of her death, Sister Lois served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education, and a Master of Arts degree in education, both from Marywood College in Scranton, PA.
She was preceded in death by six brothers, Hubert, Joseph, John, Robert, Francis and Thomas, and five sisters, Sister Clare, IHM, Margaret Coggins, Catherine Brennan, Mary Conaboy and Loretta Hayes, and an aunt in community, Sister M. Constance Roche, IHM.
She is survived by eight nieces, Lois Gallagher, Arlene Quinn, Sharon Elliot, Eleanor Gaffney, Alice Hubert, all of Scranton, PA, Judy Smar of Edison, NJ, Ann Bittner of Deer Park, NY, Mimi Bradford of Phoenix, AZ, and a nephew Tom Roche of Pocono Lake, PA.
The funeral was Monday, January 3 at 10:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at the Marian Convent followed by internment at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call on Sunday afternoon after 2:00 p.m. at the Marian Convent.
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.
