Sister Mary Liguori Farnon, IHM
Sister Mary Liguori Farnon, IHM, of the Congregation of Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died on Thursday, April 25, 1991 at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania, after an illness.
She was born on March 29, 1904 in Lisnafiffey, County Down, Ireland, and given the name Moya Isabelle. She was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Mary McArdle Farnon. She entered the IHM Congregation on July 14, 1927, received the religious habit on December 28, 1927, and made profession of her vows on December 27, 1929.
Sister Mary Ligouri served as a teacher at St. Mary Elementary School in Avoca, PA, and St. Lawrence Academy in Portland, OR. She also served as a teacher at schools located in New Jersey, North Carolina, and New York.
She served as principal and teacher at St. Thomas Elementary School in Bedford, PA.
Sister also served as director of residents at Marywood College in Scranton, PA, director of postulants for the IHM Congregation in Scranton, PA, and superior at the Catholic Child Care Center in Hollidaysburg, PA.
From 1979 until the time of her death, Sister Mary Ligouri served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent.
She is preceded in death by three brothers, John, James, and Lawrence, and two sisters, Mary Florence Crumlish and Dinia Irene McLaughlin.
She is survived by nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be Monday, April 29 with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in the Marian Convent Chapel, followed by interment at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, Pennsylvania. Friends may call at the Marian Convent on Sunday afternoon or evening.
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.
Archival Remembrance:
As an teacher of primary and intermediate grade, Sister Mary Ligouri Farnon began her teaching career at St. Mary School in Avoca, Pennsylvania. She also taught at IHM schools in Oregon, New Jersey, North Carolina and New York. Later, she served as director of residents at Marywood College, director of postulants for the IHM Congregation, and superior at the Catholic Child Care Center in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Having served as teacher and principal at St. Thomas School in Bedford, Sister Liguori returned to St. Mary in Avoca, in 1974. She retired to the Marian Convent in 1979.
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
