Sister Cecilia Marie Tippen, IHM
Sister Cecilia Marie Tippen, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, at St. Joseph’s Center Convent in Scranton.
She was born on May 20, 1939, in Masontown, PA, and given the name Margaret Ann. She was the daughter of the late Edward and Winona Gray Tippen. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1957, and made her temporary profession of vows on March 14, 1960, and her final profession of vows on March 14, 1965.
Sister Cecilia Marie served as a teacher in the following schools: Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School in Scranton, PA, in 1960; St. John Elementary School in Susquehanna, PA, from 1960 to 1964; St. Rose Elementary School in Carbondale, PA, from 1964 to 1967; St. Mary Elementary School in Manhasset, NY, from 1967 to 1969; Sacred Heart Elementary School in Mt. Holly, NJ, from 1969 to 1971; Epiphany Elementary School in Sayre, PA, from 1975 to 1979; St. Ambrose Elementary School in Bridgeport, CT, from 1979 to 1982; Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse, NY, from 1982 to 1986; St. Patrick Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1986 to 1991; and Monsignor McHugh Elementary School in Cresco, PA, from 1991 to 1994.
Sister served as principal at St. John Elementary School in Danville, PA, from 1971 to 1975.
She also served as a computer operator at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA, from 1994 to 2006; and at Our lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA, from 2006 to present.
She received a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree in elementary education from Marywood College.
She is survived by a brother, Edward, and his wife, Mildred, of Masontown, PA; and a sister, Sister Patricia, IHM, of East Islip, NY. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.
The funeral will be Tuesday, October 21, 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 Monday, October 20, between 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Interment will follow Mass on Tuesday 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.
Reflections given by Sister Ellen Maroney, IHM Congregation President
Sister Cecilia Marie Tippen, Wake 10/20/14
Good afternoon, Sisters and Friends,
She lived justly, loved tenderly, and walked humbly with her God.
As we gather this afternoon to celebrate the wonderful life of Sister Cecilia Marie Tippen, these words say it all for me. Ceil was faithful to her God, to her family and her Congregation, and to all who knew her. Her kindness and concern for all, especially the most vulnerable around her and in our world, was an example for all of us. There was never any pretentiousness with Ceil. She was genuine and honest in her relationships, and we never had to guess where she stood on matters that concerned her, especially congregational matters!
Whenever anyone would ask how she was when they met her, she would usually respond, “I’m doing okay” even when she wasn’t! Though we cannot help but be sad at her going from us, we know with all the certainty of our faith that she really is, finally, “doing okay” as she rejoices now with her God. And, trust me, I’m sure God and all of heaven have their mail sorted and delivered in record time now, and in some small office, Ceil is patiently teaching God and probably some of our IHM residents there the latest computer upgrade! That is, of course, after she has read the morning newspaper from cover to cover before anyone else has even gotten up. We know Ceil is not ‘resting,’ even in heaven.
Ceil’s life among us was dedicated to service. As an elementary school teacher, she served in schools in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. She was also principal at St. John’s School in Danville. I have no doubt that in all of these places, the children experienced first-hand God’s love and care and joy through Ceil. For the last twenty years, Ceil committed herself and her many gifts to serving the needs of the sisters, first at the Marian Convent and then Our Lady of Peace. We recall her unassuming manner and her respect and compassion towards those she served. We know their lives and the lives of all she touched are better, brighter, and more meaningful for having known Ceil.
She lived justly, loved tenderly, and walked humbly with her God.
Loving and compassionate God, we gather here today in faith, though our hearts are heavy with sadness as we mourn the death of our Sister Cecilia Marie Tippen. In our very human way of thinking, she left us too soon. We would have preferred that she be given the gifts of health and years into her eighties or nineties or more, for her spirit was resilient. But somehow, through your grace, we realize that she left us right on time: on time to be welcomed into your healing, loving embrace; on time to be at peace for all eternity. We pray to Ceil now and remember how she loved you in all those she met and served in your name.
Ceil’s life was dedicated to service. She began her IHM ministry as a devoted teacher of elementary school children. This ministry took her to six schools in Pennsylvania, two in New York, one in Connecticut, and one in New Jersey. She also served as principal at St. John’s School in Danville, PA. For the past twenty years, Ceil committed herself and her services as a computer specialist to meeting the needs of the sisters at the Marian Convent and Our Lady of Peace. We recall how she served all in an unassuming manner and with respect and compassion. We know that their lives and the lives of all she touched are better, brighter, and more meaningful for having known Ceil.
We pause to remember Ceil’s parents, Winona and Edward, with whom she is rejoicing today in heaven. We pray for all those who will miss her caring presence, especially her sister, Patty, and her brother, Eddie, and his wife, Mildred. Our prayers are also with those friends and co-workers who companioned Ceil: Sr. Ann Marie; her band members and her mission group; the sisters at St. Joseph Center, with whom she lived, as well as the sisters and staff who minister at St. Joseph’s; the administrators, staff, and sisters here at Our Lady of Peace, whom she loved and served so faithfully; her many IHM friends; and all who knew and loved her.
Grant eternal rest to Ceil, O Lord, and may your everlasting light shine upon her and all your faithful departed. Amen
Sister Cecilia Marie Tippen, Funeral 10/21/14
Good morning, Everyone. As we gather in prayer to celebrate the life of Sr. Cecilia Marie, I want to welcome her sister, Patty, and her brother, Eddie, and all her friends who are able to be with us today.
I would like to thank Fathers Hazler, Tylenda, and Pickard for being here with us today. I know Ceil is delighted with your presence, though I can hear her saying to us, “Enough with all this fuss.”
I also want to express thanks to Srs. Jean, Eleanor Mary, and Mary Kay, the administrators here at OLP, for their constant support of Ceil during her ministry here at Our Lady of Peace. She really loved her work here with you and all the sisters.
Thank you to Sr. Maryalice and the administration and staff of St. Joseph’s Center, where Ceil lived, for their support of all the sisters there, and for providing Ceil’s family and friends with last evening’s wonderful meal.
Whoever you hold in the heart of you is forever and always a part of you.
The beauty of this autumn season in the color of the trees surrounding us reminds us that death gives way to new life. Even though we might have expected it, we were not prepared last Wednesday night when we heard that Ceil had died; we simply could not believe it. In our very human way of thinking, she left us too soon. We would have preferred that she be given the gifts of good health and years into her eighties or nineties or more, for her spirit was indomitable. But somehow, through God’s grace, we realize that she left us right on time: on time to be welcomed into God’s healing, loving embrace; on time to be at peace for all eternity. So now we pray to rather than for our Saint Ceil as she receives her eternal reward as a faithful daughter from the God whom she loved and served all her life.
I found Ceil to be a good and honest person who could, at times, be just a bit stubborn! I’m not sure if anyone else experienced that in her!! There was never any pretentiousness in Ceil, and we never had to guess where she stood on matters that concerned her, especially congregation matters! Her life was dedicated to service wherever she was. As teacher and principal, she brought the message God’s love, care, and joy to students and teachers alike. I have no doubt that kindness was the greatest lesson she taught just by being who she was. When she brought her gifts to serve the sisters at the Marian Convent and then later Our Lady of Peace, Ceil greeted all with holy graciousness, respect, and compassion. We know that their lives and the lives of all she touched are better, brighter, and more meaningful for having known her.
“I’m doing okay” – that was Ceil’s usual response whenever anyone asked how she was. Though we can’t help but be sad at her going from us, we know with all the certainty of our faith that she really is, finally, “doing okay” as she rejoices now with her God. And we know that God and all of heaven have their mail sorted and delivered in record time now, and that Ceil has a front-row seat at all the heavenly sporting events each day. This is, of course, after she has read the morning newspaper from cover to cover, which I’m told she found in the celestial Potato Room! Some things never change!! For sure, we know Ceil is not ‘resting,’ even in heaven.
We pause to remember Ceil’s parents, Winona and Edward, with whom she is rejoicing today in heaven. We pray for all those who will miss her caring presence, especially her sister, Patty, and her brother, Eddie, and his wife, Mildred. Our prayers are also with her many friends and co-workers: Sr. Ann Marie; her band members and her mission group; the sisters at St. Joseph Center, with whom she lived, as well as the sisters and staff who minister at St. Joseph’s; the administrators, staff, and sisters here at Our Lady of Peace, whom she loved and served so faithfully; her many IHM friends; and all who knew and loved her. We ask the God of all consolation to comfort them in this time of loss.
Patty will now place the scriptures on Ceil’s’s casket, for indeed Ceil heard the Word of God, she staked her life upon it and received life to the full . . . the Word now beckons her home.
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Spring 2015 issue
My Sister, My Friend
Cecilia Marie, aka, Ceil, aka, Peggy (to her family), grew up as the oldest of three children to Edward and Winona Tippen in Masontown, Pennsylvania. This small coal-mining town, home to her family, bustling with the “coal industry” in her youth, was host to the Sisters of IHM as teachers and principal of the elementary and high school, in All Saints’ parish. Here was the fertile ground for Peggy’s character, personality and vocation as a Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart of
Mary.
Our parents were faith-filled, simple, caring and fun-loving. And so was she! Simply faith-filled, her caring and loving ways showed up in the many surprises she loved doing for the Sisters and staff at the Marian Convent and later at Our Lady of Peace Residence where she worked for the last twenty years of her life.
As a baseball fan from her youth,listening to the Pirates on the radio with our Dad on the back porch, she nurtured her life-long interest in sports. Ceil was the one looking for a commentary about the latest scores and listings from many, especially the maintenance staff.
As a true daughter of Irish-English parents, she was faith-filled, stubborn like them, even tenacious, and very caring and loving in quiet, simple ways. These qualities made her a strong, kind, good teacher and principal, and endeared her to so many students. These also made her a wonderful sister and friend to so many, and most especially to me. My joy now is remembering with a smile her many loving surprises and signs of caring for me, our brother Eddie and his family, and many
others.
What was the inside story with her? Her deep prayer life was nurtured by her love of scripture, Thomas Merton’s writings and journals and Macrina Wiederkehr’s meditations and reflections, and her love of retreat time, especially in the hermitage. These were her “sources”, her connection to God in Jesus and her lifeline in stoking her creativity and caring ways. Her love of community life and times stirred her into action in planning prayer as well as parties, decorating and, of course, showing up for the community gatherings and meetings, always with great interest and care.
What a treasure Ceil was! Our Ceil is certainly missed by many of us. Yet now we celebrate that she is among our communion of “friends of God and lovers of the dream.”
by Sister Patricia Tippen, IHM
