Obituary

 

Sister M. Fidelmia Lynch, IHM

Sister M. Fidelmia Lynch, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, April 9, 2005, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania. 

She was born on June 29, 1910 in Cork, Ireland, and given the name Pauline. She was the daughter of the late Richard and Bridget Nagle Lynch. She entered the IHM Congregation on July 30, 192, made her temporary profession of vows on April 21, 1932, and her final profession of vows on August 1, 1935.

Sister Fidelmia served as a teacher at the following schools: St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Pittston, PA, in 1932; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Bellefonte, PA, from 1932 to 1933; St. Michael Elementary School in Hoban Heights, PA, from 1933 to 1942; St. Ann Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1942 to 1947; and St. John Elementary School in Cresson, PA, from 1956 to 1960. She also served in schools located in Baltimore, Bethesda, La Plata, and Upper Marlboro all in Maryland.

From 1978 until the time of her death, Sister Fidelmia served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Marywood College.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, William, Cornelius, and Michael, and five sisters, Bridget Lynch, Mary Cronin, Elizabeth O’Shea, Rose Hyde, Agnes Mahoney, and Margaret Lane.

She is survived by nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Thursday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at the Marian Convent followed by interment at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Friends may call at the Marian Convent on Wednesday after 2:00 p.m.

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.


The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary benefited from the efforts to bring young women from Ireland to Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Over the years a total of sixty-five young women became professed IHM religious. Their services were received as far west at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho at the IHM Academy and at St. Edward School, Twin Falls, Idaho.  The southern missions witnessed their dedication in Washington, Raleigh, and Rocky Mount, North Carolina.  It was remarked that black children in some southern schools were speaking with an Irish brogue!  The Sisters from Ireland also served in many locations in Pennsylvania, such as Dushore, Lock Haven, Exeter, Altoona, Pittsburgh, St. Michael's School in Hoban Heights, Cresson, Pittston, Scranton, and Williamsport. New York and Rhode Island missions also received their services.

Excerpted from The Story of the Native Irish Sisters Who Entered the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Scranton Pennsylvania by Sister M. Michel Keenan, IHM, 2006, p.18