Sister M. Clarita Maloney, IHM
Sister M. Clarita Maloney, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, June 4, 2012 at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on February 19, 1923 in Westbury, NY and given the name Mary Cecelia. She was the daughter of the late Michael Paul and Margaret Houlihan Maloney. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1940, and made her temporary profession of vows on May 10, 1943 and her final profession of vows on August 1, 1946.
Sister Clarita served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Ann’s Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1943 to 1946; St. Basil Elementary School in Dushore, PA, from 1946 to 1950; St. Paul High School in Cranston, RI, from 1950 to 1954; Immaculate Conception Elementary School in West Pittston, PA, from 1954 to 1957; Bishop Guilfoyle High School in Altoona, PA, from 1957 to 1959; St. Rose High School in Carbondale, PA, from 1959 to 1967; Holy Rosary High School in Scranton, PA, from 1967 to 1968; St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, NY, from 1968 to 1977 and 1984 to 1990; Bishop O’Hara High School in Dunmore, PA, from 1977 to 1981; and Maria Regina Diocesan High School in Uniondale, NY, from 1981 to 1984.
Sister Clarita served as principal at Holy Rosary High School in Scranton, PA, from 1967 to 1968.
She also served as secretary of the Educational Enrichment Institute at the IHM Center in Scranton, PA, from 1990 to 1991; activities coordinator at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA, from 1991 to 1997; and on the support staff at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA, from 1997 to 2006.
From 2006 until the time of her death, Sister Clarita served as a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in education and Master of Science in religious education from Marywood College, and a Master of Arts degree in American History from Villanova University.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Michael and Francis, and a sister, Rita Mae Hogan.
She is survived by a sister-in-law, Catherine Maloney of Huntington Station, NY, nieces and nephews, including, Dennis Hogan of Elmont, NY.
The funeral will be Thursday, June 7, at 11:00 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 Wednesday, June 6, between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Interment will follow Mass on Thursday 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 2012 issue
Sister Clarita had the IHM spirit deep in her heart throughout her whole religious life and also when she attended high school at
St. Dominic’s in Oyster Bay, New York. She often told me what great teachers she had there. She even loved more the spirit of the sisters
when they sat on the wraparound porch in the summer and would laugh, sing, pray and enjoy life.
It is ironic that I should be writing this as we near the election of a President for 2012-2016. When I taught with Sister Clarita at St. Dominic’s, her students were always up-to-date on politics. They had debates and every four years ran their own political campaigns with speeches, decorations and posters and cast their ballots with real voting machines borrowed from the district.
Sister Clarita was number one cheerleader for all sports teams.
Who could forget her very dear friend, Sister Judith Gavigan? They shared traveling and fun for many long years. We remember
Sister Clarita’s trip to India and the pictures of her riding the elephant. She shared all these stories and adventures with her family and
friends.
She loved her family and when her brother Mike needed her, she came promptly and no sacrifice was too great.
As we read in the Aeneid, “no day shall erase you from the memory of time.” And as Jesus said, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
When we visit Our Lady of Lourdes shrine, we will stop and say an Ave. We loved you in life Clarita, and we love you in death.
by Jane Frances Dunnigan, IHM
