Sister M. Mercedes O'Malley, IHM
Sister M. Mercedes O'Malley, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Tuesday, August 5, 1919 at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on November 16, 1859 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and given the name Nora. She was the daughter of the late Thomas and Ann Cannon O'Malley. She entered the IHM Congregation on August 27, 1885, received the religious habit on June 1, 1886, and made profession of her vows on July 12, 1888.
Sister Mercedes enjoyed her years of teaching children at our IHM mission schools, including at St. Joseph School in Danville, PA, and St. Cecilia Academy in Scranton, PA. She also served as superior at St. Joseph's Convent in Danville.
She is preceded in death by a brother, John, and two sisters, Sister M. Stella, IHM, and Mrs. P. H. Gilgallon.
She is survived by three sisters, Sister M. Raphael, IHM (her twin), Miss Kate G. O'Malley, and Miss Nellie O'Malley.
Interment is 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.
"Sister M. Mercedes O'Malley was Superior at Saint Joseph's, Danville, at the time of her death, August 5, 1915. She had just finished the work of the school year, when she was stricken with a fatal illness. Sister M. Mercedes was an earnest, upright religious, honest with herself and with all who came under her care. Her death was a great loss to the community, for reasonably she might have hoped for many more years of usefulness. She was Sister Mary Raphael's twin sister, and one of three daughters who had consecrated themselves to the service of God."
Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, pgs. 452, 53
