Sister M. Magdalena Tierney, IHM
Sister M. Magdalena Tierney, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on September 12, 1962.
Daughter of the late Michael and Catherine Agnes Murray Tierney, she was born on July 9, 1878 in Scranton, Pennsylvania; and given the name Susan Carmel. She entered the IHM Congregation on March 25, 1902; received the religious habit on July 31, 1902, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1904.
Sister Magdalena served as a teacher at the following schools: Marywood Seminary in Scranton, from 1915 to 1917; St. Mary of the Mount in Pittsburgh, from 1922 to 1928; St. Patrick School in Scranton, from 1932 to 1934; St. Alphonsus in New York City, from 1934 to 1936; Most Holy Rosary in Syracuse, NY, from 1936 to 1945; Nativity in Scranton, from 1945 to 1949; and St. St. Ann in Scranton, from 1949 to 1955.
Sister served as principal at St. Patrick School in Scranton, from 1932 to 1934.
She also served as a teacher of penmanship at Marywood Seminary and Novitiate in Scranton, from 1904 to 1915; General Secretary to Mother M. Cyril Conway, IHM, Superior General, at Mount Saint Mary's in Scranton, from 1904 to 1915; Registrar at Marywood College in Scranton, from 1915 to 1922; Directress of Marywood Seminary in Scranton, from 1928 to 1929; Treasurer at St. Joseph's Hospital in Carbondale, from 1929 to 1932; and general office duties at Marywood Seminary in Scranton, from 1955 to 1957.
From 1957 until the time of her death, she served as a prayer minister.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, John, Reverend Dudley, and Thomas.
She is survived by a niece, Nan Walsh; grandnieces and grandnephews.
The funeral will be on Saturday, at 9:30 a.m. at the Marian Convent, Scranton. Interment will follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, Pennsylvania.
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.
Below is an archival reflection about our Sister M. Magdalena Tierney:
The tall gracious cultured lady that was our Sister M. Magdalena will long be remembered for the atmosphere of religious politeness that she spread around her. All who met her were influenced by her courteous manner and her unfailing respect for others. She came from a family distinguished for its service to the Church. In her early days at Mount Saint Mary's, she taught penmanship to the Seminary students and in the novitiate. Under her capable instruction, hundreds of our Sisters acquired good habits and teacher training in fine penmanship. She served our Community in many capacities, as teacher, principal, directress of Marywood Seminary, registrar at Marywood College, treasurer at St. Joseph's Hospital, and as secretary to two Superior Generals. Our Community archives and records provide many examples of the inspiring religious tone of her correspondence, her splendid mastery of English, and her exquisite penmanship. Always she was a meticulous worker; little short of perfection was required in all her service. Her religious life showed the same striving for perfection, and her observance of Rule and Customs was most exacting. She was a real lady and a true religious. May her example of the perfect religious challenge many to imitate her exact observance and her never-failing courtesy.
Below is a shortened obituary for our Sister Mary Magdalena:
Final rites will be held Saturday for Sister Mary Magdalena, a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary order 58 years, who died Wednesday in St. Joseph's Hospital, Carbondale.
Sister Mary Magdalena had been an aide in the business office of Marywood Seminary since 1955. She formerly served as a teacher and later as directress of Marywood Seminary. She was Registrar of Marywood College from its founding in 1915 until 1922.
A daughter of the late Michael and Catherine Murray Tierney of this city, she entered the novitiate at St. Rose, Carbondale, in March, 1902, was invested in the religious habit in July of that year and pronounced her final vows in August, 1904.
Sister Mary Magdalena served in the business office at St. Joseph's Hospital, Carbondale, and was principal at St. Patrick's High School, this city, and taught at Holy Rosary School and Church of the Nativity School.
She was a sister of the late Thomas Tierney, this city, former principal of Technical High School; the late Msgr. Thaddeus Tierney (sic), New York City, and the late Dudley Tierney, New York City.
There are no immediate survivors.
The funeral will be from the Marian Convent, Marywood, with Mass at 9:30 a.m. in the convent chapel. Interment, St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow.
