Sister M. Noralene Calpin, IHM
Sister M. Noralene Calpin, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Tuesday, December 22, 2009, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on March 21, 1927 in Scranton, PA, and given the name Jane Marie. She was the daughter of the late Patrick and Beatrice Kilcullen Calpin. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1947, made her temporary profession of vows on August 2, 1949, and her final profession of vows on August 2, 1954.
Sister Noralene served as a teacher in the following schools: St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in Archbald, PA, from 1949 to 1950; St. Leo Elementary School in Ashley, PA, from 1950 to 1952; St. Ephrem Elementary School in Brooklyn, NY, from 1952 to 1956; St. Cecilia Elementary School in Exeter, PA, from 1956 to 1960; St. Mary of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA, from 1960 to 1961; St. Paul Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1961 to 1963; at St. Ann Elementary School in Nyack, NY, from 1963 to 1969; Bishop O’Reilly High School in Kingston, PA, from 1972 to 1974; and Bishop Hoban High School in Wilkes Barre, PA, from 1982 to 1983.
Sister Noralene served as vice principal at Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School in Inwood, NY, from 1969 to 1970; and as principal at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA, from 1970 to 1971.
Sister also served as a theology teacher at Bishop O’Hara High School in Dunmore, PA, from 1983 to 1995; Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Coordinator at Seton Catholic High School in Pittston, PA, from 1974 to 1982; and library assistant at Bishop Hannon High School in Scranton, PA, from 1995 to 1997.
She served as a prayer minister at Cathedral Convent in Scranton, PA, from 1997 to 2007, and from 2007 until the time of her death, she served as a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence.
Sister Noralene was a longstanding member of Pennsylvanians for Human Life, and served on the regional board of the organization.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education, a Master of Science degree in elementary education, and a Master of Science degree in religious studies, all from Marywood College.
She is preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas P., and Joseph J., and a sister, Marie Calpin Flaherty.
She is survived by two sisters, Dorothy Norton of Ocean Grove, NJ, and Helen McDonough of Scranton, PA, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
The funeral will be Tuesday, December 29, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Interment will follow at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Monday, December 28, between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:30 p.m.
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.
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Spring 2010 issue
With the annual March for Life recently past, I am reminded of freezing, black, January mornings, when Sister Noralene and her loyal band would gather at the parking lot at St. Mary’s for the bus to Washington. Even the years when her knees would be hurting, or after she had a knee replacement, she would endure the cold and long blocks, and keep tabs on excited kids. One year, the threat of a blizzard was so great, only Sister went on the bus. But march she did!
While the Pro-Life cause was dearest to her heart, she was also an inspiring freshman/sophomore religion teacher. She presented sure faith to their questioning hearts, met their arguments with love, and encouraged their school activities. She was a great support and friend during our years at Bishop O’Hara.
She also inveigled me into joining her in the St. Mary’s Choir. She loved to sing and had many good friends among the choir members. The choir sang for Governor Casey’s inaugural, and getting up the twisting steps to the choir loft in the Cathedral was a challenge, but made it she did.
If you lived with her, you also knew her family. Their interests were always dear to her heart. Whether you were family, priest, nun, parent, or student, Sister Noralene would keep reminding you of Christian principles and love for life. Her dedication and prayers will be with us from heaven.
by M. Claudette Naylor, IHM
