Sister Mary Octavia Walsh, IHM
Sister Mary Octavia Walsh, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on June 25, 1961 at St. Paul's Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Daughter of the late Patrick and Bridget Bell Walsh, she was born on June 1, 1897 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania; and given the name Alidia (Ida). She entered the IHM Congregation on March 25, 1915, received the religious habit on July 6, 1915, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1917.
Sister Mary Octavia served as a teacher at the following schools: St. John the Evangelist in Bellefonte; St. Mary in Patton; St. Alphonsus in New York, NY; St. Ephrem in Brooklyn, NY; St. Ann in Scranton; Sacred Heart in Jermyn; St. Raymond in Lynbrook; St. Ann in Nyack, NY; and St. Cecilia in Exeter.
She was the superior at the following convents: St. Raymond in Lynbrook, NY; and St. Cecilia in Exeter.
From 1957 until the time of her death, she served in prayer ministry at St. Paul's Convent.
She is preceded in death by three brothers, Patrick, Michael, and Thomas B.; and two sisters, Loretta and Mary Theresa.
She is survived by a brother, Joseph of A. of Carbondale; two sisters, Agnes Casey of Carbondale; and Kathryn Gordon of Carbondale; nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews.
The funeral mass will be on Wednesday, June 28 at St. PauI's Church in Scranton. Interment will follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, Pennsylvania. Friends may call on Tuesday afternoon or evening at St. Paul's Convent.
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 Mary Octavia Walsh:
The soul of Sister Mary Octavia winged its way to God during the sessions of our General Chapter in June. Just a week previous, she was the active, vital, and interested Sister so well known to all of us. Always she will be remembered for her lively and generous spirit. Gladly and generously she enriched our Autumn Fair by her initiative in inaugurating worthwhile projects, and by her power of persuasion in arousing the generosity of others. To her there was no greater joy then to prosper in Community, both by her own service and by interesting others in our welfare. To her pupils she was a devoted teacher, supremely interested in their welfare, and solicitous for their progress. Her prayers and interest followed them in their later lives, and thousands of former students rejoiced to meet her and report their attainments. It was her pride and privilege to have converted two old buildings into commodious and well-furnished convents which gave ample evidence of her solicitude for the Sisters and her generous care of them. God rest this ever-busy Sister who spent herself for the good of the Congregation she loved and served so well.
Below is Funeral Notice transcribed from the Times-Tribune Newspaper, Scranton, PA, Wednesday, June 28, 1961, pg. 23
"Funeral Rites Conducted for Sister M. Octavia.
Final Rites were conducted this morning for Sister Mary Octavia, Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Order, a member of that order for more than four decades and a member of the faculty of St. Paul's Parochial School.
The funeral took place from St. Paul's Convent. Mass was celebrated in St. Paul's Church by the Right Rev. Msgr. John J. Vaughan, pastor. The Rev. Joseph Ryan was deacon; the Rev. Leo Gildea was subdeacon; and the Rev. Robert Gibson, master of ceremonies.
Several monsignori and priests were seated in the sanctuary and members of the student body of St. Paul's School in the body of the church.
Casket bearers were: Francis T., Joseph A., Gerald P., Gerard J., and Thomas B. Walsh, Sr., and Patrick Kilker, all relatives of Sister Mary Octavia. Interment was held at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow."
