Sister Maria Laurence Maher, IHM

Sister Maria Laurence Maher, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died Wednesday, May 30, 1984 at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania, after an illness.

She was born on July 16, 1897 in Hop Bottom, PA, and was daughter of the late Joseph and Margaret Kerner Maher. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1924, received the religious habit on December 29, 1924, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1926. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Marywood, an Master of Arts degree in biology at Villanova, and a Ph.D. from Fordham University.

As a high school teacher, Sister Maria Laurence served on the faculty of Most Holy Rosary School in Syracuse, NY, and Laurel Hill Academy in Susquehanna, PA.

Sister Maria Laurence also served on the faculty of Marywood College in Scranton, PA, from 1946 to 1979. During that time she taught biological sciences and served as chairperson of the biology department.

From 1979 until the time of her death, she served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Catherine Maher and Agnes Gordon.

She is survived by four brothers, Joseph and Edward of Hop Bottom, PA, William of Cape Coral, FL, and John of Norwich, CT, two sisters, Lenore Philhower of Glen Ridge, NJ, and Mary McElhenny, Spartanburg, SC, several nieces and nephews, and cousins, including Msgr. Robert McNulty, pastor of St. Clare's Church, Scranton, PA, Sister Maria Augustine Maher, IHM, Marian Convent in Scranton, PA, and Sister Joseph Maher, IHM, of Baltimore, MD.

The funeral will be Saturday, June 2 with Mass of Christian Burial in the Marian Convent Chapel at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, Pennsylvania. Friends may call at the Marian Convent on Friday 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.