Sister Marie Rooney, IHM
Sister Marie Rooney, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, February 28, 2008 at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She was born on September 25, 1913 in Wilkes Barre. She was the daughter of the late William J. and Mary E. Loughney Rooney. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1936 and made her temporary profession of vows on May 8, 1939 and her final profession of vows on August 3, 1942.
Sister Marie served on the faculty in the Home Economics Department at Marywood College from 1943 to 1981. She also served as a teacher at St. Patrick Elementary School in Oneida, N.Y., from 1939 to 1941; St. Peter of Alcantara in Port Washington, N.Y., from 1941 to 1942; and at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Forest Hills, N.Y., from 1942 to 1943. She was a seamstress at the IHM Center in Scranton from 1981 to 1984. From 1984 until the time of her death she served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent and Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Marywood College and a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Evelyn Catherine, and a brother, William.
She is survived by two sisters, Sister Wilma, IHM, of Scranton and Peggy Ronky of Reading; and a brother, Thomas of Wilkes Barre; nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be Wednesday, March 5, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Interment will be at St. Catherine Cemetery, Moscow. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Tuesday, March 4, between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:30 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.
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Fall 2008 issue
Sister received her heavenly reward on February 28, 2008, after many years of teaching and ministering.
When she entered she already had her bachelor’s degree from Marywood College. After profession, Sister Maré, as she was then known in religious life, was sent to New York, where she taught grade school while working on her master’s degree at Columbia University. All her classes were scheduled for evenings and Saturdays.
Upon receiving her degree, she was brought back to Marywood College where she taught in the Home Economics Department. It was then that Mother Marcella said; “Your name is now going to be Sister Marie; we don’t want anyone to call you the ‘old grey mare.’”
Marie was a great teacher and a good friend to the girls. She taught them everything from upholstering to sewing slip covers. A special project she had was to make First Communion outfits. These were given to needy children.
When she retired to the Marian Convent, she continued to sew for anyone who asked her. Marie felt that she was like “Dorcas,” the woman whom St. Peter brought back to life. She then arose and ministered to them.
The following verse was found in Marie’s wallet:
I’d like the memory of me
to be a happy one,
I’d like to leave an afterglow
of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo
whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times
and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve,
to dry before the sun
Of happy memories that I leave
When life is done.
by Sr. Wilma Rooney, IHM
