Sister M. Justa Walton, IHM
Sister M. Justa Walton, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, March 3, 2006 at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on July 20, 1922 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and given the name Ann. She was the daughter of the late Thomas and Mary B. Corcoran Walton. Before entering the community, she was a nurse at St. Joseph's Foundling Home in Scranton. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1942 and made her temporary profession of vows on May 8, 1945 and her final profession of vows on August 2, 1948.
Sister Justa served as a teacher at the following schools: All Saints Elementary School in Masontown, PA, from 1962 to 1964; at St. Michael’s School for Boys in Hoban Heights, PA, from 1964 to 1973; St. Raymond School in East Rockaway, NY; and St. Dominic School in Oyster Bay, NY.
Sister Justa also served as the coordinator/consultant of special religious education for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, from 1973 to 2000. She was a pioneer in ministry to persons with disabilities in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the founder of Camp GLOW (God Loves Our World.)
From 2000 to 2004, she was a prayer minister at St. Rita Convent in Baltimore, MD, and from 2004 to the time of her death, she was a prayer minister at the Marian Convent and Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education, and a Master of Science degree in special education, both from Marywood College.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas and James; three sisters, Alice Evans, Dorothy Judge, and Mary Leber; and an aunt in community, Sister M. Gonzaga Walton, IHM.
She is survived by two sisters, Marjorie Howells of Scranton; and Helen Swanson of Montgomery, PA.
The funeral will be Wednesday, March 8 at 10:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at the IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton followed by interment at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Friends may call at the IHM Center on Tuesday, March 7, between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 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.
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Fall 2006 issue
Those close to Sr. Justa accompanied her in her anticipation and joy in moving into Our Lady of Peace Residence. Sister was so proud to be a part of this great community happening.
This same joy was part of Sr. Justa’s life both before and after entering the IHM Congregation. She spoke many times of her days as a lay nurse at then St. Joseph Foundling Home. It was this contact that brought Sr. Justa to enter religious life.
Sr. Justa’s nearly 20 years of residence at St. Rita’s Convent provided countless opportunities for storytelling: her first mission at All Saints School in Masontown, her various experiences at St. Michael’s School at Hoban Heights, her New York sojourns in East Rockaway, New York City, and Oyster Bay.
When the Baltimore Archdiocese was in need of a coordinator for a special education religion program, Sr. Justa answered the need. Her degrees in education and special education, her strong faith, and a determination to give the special people in her programs Christ-like attention, prepared her well. “How will our special people know God, unless we show them love?” she would say.
Camp GLOW (God Loves Our World), a social/spiritual week away, as well as countless programs initiated by Sr. Justa continue today.
Sr. Justa courageously bore many medical problems in the last few years, yet her death on March 3, 2006, was a shock to all who loved her. Her regular phone calls attested to her interest and awareness in life. She will be missed by all. May her prayers continue to support all those she loved and cared for.
by Sisters Mary Mark Carnes, Mary Lambert Rossi and Madeline Swaboski
