Sister M. Blanche Cawley, IHM
Sister M. Blanche Cawley, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, January 15, 1922 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Carbondale, Pennsylvania.
She was born on January 2, 1863 in Pittston, Pennsylvania, and given the name Kathryn. She was the daughter of the late John and Mary Martin Cawley. Before entering the community, she served as a teacher in the Pittston area public school system. She entered the IHM Congregation on June 28, 1888, received the religious habit on December 27, 1888, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1891.
Sister Blanche enjoyed her years of teaching children in our IHM mission schools. From 1913 until the time of her death, Sister served in child care for resident children at St. Rose's School in Carbondale, Pennsylvania.
She is survived by five sisters, Mrs. Mary Gerrity, Anna Cawley, Elizabeth Cawley Tigue, Mrs. James Murphy, and Esther Cawley, three brothers, John, James Sylvester, and Martin, and nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, January 18 at 9:30 am at St. Rose Church in Carbondale, with interment to follow at the parish cemetery (St. Rose of Lima Cemetery). Friends may call on Tuesday afternoon or evening at St. Rose Convent in Carbondale.
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.
"Sister Mary Blanche, Native of Pittston, Dies in Carbondale
Sister Mary Blanche, a member of the order of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and a native of Pittston, died Sunday night at St. Rose Convent (sic), Carbondale, following a four weeks' illness of pneumonia. Sister Blanche was formerly Miss Kathryn (sic) Cawley, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Cawley, pioneer residents of Broad street, this city, and a cousin of Rev. P.F. Cawley, assistant pastor of St. Rose Church, Carbondale. Before entering the convent she was a teacher in the public schools of this city.
Deceased was 59 years of age. For 37 years she has been a member of the religious order, for the past nine years being in charge of the boys' boarding school at St. Rose Convent, Carbondale. She was also a teacher in art and needlework. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Mary Gerrity, of Omaha, Nev.
The funeral will be held tomorrow morning morning from St. Rose Church, Carbondale. Interment will be in St. Rose Cemetery."
above is the obituary published in The Pittston Gazette newspaper on Tuesday, Jan. 17 1922, pg. 5
