Sister Jeanne Tubach, IHM
Sister Jeanne Tubach, IHM, (formerly known as Sister Mary Gordon) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, July 6, 2013, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She was born on September 1, 1932, in Towanda, PA, and given the name Eugenia. She was the daughter of the late Gordon P. and Marian Sick Tubach. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1949, and made her temporary profession of vows on May 8, 1952, and her final profession of vows on May 8, 1955.
Sister Jeanne served as principal at the following schools: Academia Cristo Rey in Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 1964 to 1967; and at Holy Rosary High School in Scranton, PA, from 1971 to 1974.
Sister served as sector superior for the IHM Congregation from 1974 to 1982.
Sister was a teacher at the following schools: St. Ann Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1952 to 1957; St. Paul Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1957 to 1960; St. Mary High School in Manhasset, NY, from 1960 to 1961; St. Rose High School in Carbondale, PA, from 1961 to 1964; St. Patrick High School in Olyphant, PA, from 1967 to 1969; St. Mary of the Mt. High School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1969 to 1971; and Santisimo Nombre de Jesus High School in Lima, Peru, from 1985 to 1988.
Sister Jeanne served on the staff at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA, from 1982 to 1985; as director of volunteer services at Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale, PA, from 1988 to 1997; and on the staff at the IHM Spiritual Renewal Center in Cresco, PA, from 1998 to 2004.
From 2006 until the time of her death, Sister Jeanne was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She received a bachelor of science degree in education from Marywood College, a master of science degree in general science from the University of Scranton.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Wayne.
She is survived by a brother, Paul, and his wife, Barbara, of Glen Allen, VA; and two sisters, Lucille Christini and her husband, James, of Towanda, PA, and Mary Frances Cummiskey and her husband, John, of Endicott, NY; nieces and nephews; and grandnieces and grandnephews.
The funeral will be Saturday, July 13, at 9:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Friday, July 12, between 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Interment will follow Mass on Saturday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.
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.
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Fall 2013 issue
Sister Jeanne was the daughter of Gordon and Marian Tubach whose family was raised in Dushore, PA. For many years in this picturesque town, IHM Sisters staffed St. Basil Elementary and High School. Fulfilling her vocation to become an IHM Sister, Jeanne began her religious formation in 1949 and after profession of vows of religion in 1952, her life of bountiful service began for the people of God in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Lima, Peru.
Little did I know when I left St. Alphonsus School in New York City for a new mission in Puerto Rico that Sister Jeanne would become my close friend. We often conversed and shared laughs about the unfamiliar language and culture so new to both of us. As principal of Academia Cristo Rey from 1964 to 1967, Jeanne’s style of education was positive, creative, and always with an understanding of the students.
From 1985-1988, Jeanne and I were again assigned to a foreign mission, Santissimo Nombre de Jesus in Lima, Peru, teaching religion and English to the native Spanish Peruvians. One of our precious memories was a little vacation near the Pacific Ocean where we watched the early morning fishermen cleaning their nets. We were reminded of the gospel story when Jesus called his first disciples to leave their nets and follow him.
Eventually Jeanne returned to our homeland in the United States where her gifts were recognized and appreciated in administrative positions. After years of active service in education, health care, spiritual renewal, and congregation leadership, Jeanne retired to a ministry of prayer.
Now I have a cherished memory. When Jeanne and I first approached Puerto Rico by airplane, a huge rainbow, a welcome sign, hung from the sky. On July 13, 2013, I envisioned another rainbow—another welcome sign—as Jeanne entered renewed life with her God. May my dear friend, Jeanne, rest in peace
by Sister Maria Voorneveld, IHM
