Sister M. Rita Cecilia McKinney, IHM
Sister M. Rita Cecilia McKinney, IHM, of the Congregation of Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died Saturday, April 6, 1991 at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania, after an illness.
She was born on May 13, 1909 in Coupon, Pennsylvania, and given the name Marion. She was daughter of the late Peter Leo and Germaine Luther McKinney. She entered the IHM Congregation on August 14, 1927, received the religious habit on December 28, 1927, and made profession of her vows on December 27, 1929.
Sister Rita Cecilia served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Patrick Elementary School in Scranton, PA; St. Cecilia Elementary School in Wyoming, PA; Epiphany Elementary School in Sayre, PA; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Altoona, PA; St. Joseph Elementary School in Renovo, PA; All Saints Elementary School in Masontown, PA; Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse, NY; as well as at elementary schools located in Baltimore, MD.
Sister also served as a small group instructor at St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Bellefonte, PA.
From 1983 until the time of her death, Sister Rita Cecilia served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent.
She is preceded in death by five brothers, Arthur (infant), Peter (infant), Leo Lawrence, Vernon Demetrius, and Paul Kenneth, and a sister, Helen Matilda Hammon.
She is survived by a sister, Shirley Rita Bender of Ashville, PA, and nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be Wednesday, April 10 with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in the Marian Convent chapel followed by interment at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, Pennsylvania. Friends may call on Tuesday afternon at the Marian 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.
