Sister Genevieve McCloskey, IHM
Sister Genevieve McCloskey, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. Hosina) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, June 13, 2005, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on September 4, 1916 in Pittsburgh, PA, and given the name Rose. She was the daughter of the late Edwin Joseph and Sarah Agnes Welsh McCloskey. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1935, made temporary profession of her vows on May 2, 1938, and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1941.
Sister Genevieve served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Agnes Elementary School in Lock Haven, PA, from 1938 to 1950; St. Mary of the Mount High School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1950 to 1956 and 1970 to 1982; Kingston Catholic High School in Kingston, PA, from 1956 to 1957 and 1960 to 1962; St. Rose High School in Carbondale, PA, from 1962 to 1963; South Catholic High School in Scranton, PA, from 1966 to 1967; St. Ephrem High School in Brooklyn, NY; St. Mary High School in Manhasset, NY; St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, NY; Maria Regina High School in Uniondale, NY; and at schools located in La Plata, MD.
From 1999 until the time of her death, Sister Genevieve served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent in Scranton.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in English from Marywood College, and a Master of Arts degree in education from Duquesne University.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Edwin, William, Lawrence and Francis; and two sisters, Mary G. Flatley and Sister M. Bonaventure, IHM.
She is survived by nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
The funeral was Friday, June 17 at 10:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at the Marian Convent, followed by interment at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Friends may call on Thursday afternoon after 2:00 pm 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.
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Winter 2006 issue
June 15, 2005, will be lovingly remembered by those who loved her as the beginning of new life for Genevieve McCloskey, IHM or by those who knew her as Sister M. Hosina. Her death left them with a new depth of sadness. However with their grief walks a joy-filled companion in the healing knowledge that Gen has been welcomed into the promised environment where “eye has not seen” what has been prepared for God Lovers.
A similar joyousness has been experienced on an earlier September date when Genevieve was first welcomed as the youngest member of the Edwin and Sarah McCloskey family. She had been preceded therein by four brothers: Edwin, William, Lawrence and Francis, and her sisters Mary Grace and Stella (Sr. Bonaventure McCloskey, IHM). Genevieve was born on September 4, 1916.
September 8, 1935 assumed significance in her story when Genevieve joined her sister, Bonaventure, in answering God’s call to serve Him as a Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Sister Genevieve pronounced temporary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience on May 2, 1938. Final commitment came with final vows on August 2, 1941.
During the ordinary day-to-day living Sister was prepared to spread God’s work as a teacher. She earned a BS degree from Marywood College and a masters of arts in education from Duquesne University. Her teaching service to the congregation began with twelve years of elementary instruction at Saint Agnes Parochial School in Lock Haven, Pa. This foundation was followed by fifty years as a gifted high school teacher. Service at this level was at reputable secondary schools in the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Rockville Centre, Scranton and Washington D.C.
During the secondary school experience, students found Sister a delightful companion and a faithful leader. She became known among secondary faculties for her enthusiasm and for the skill of her teaching style. Youth found her genuinely devoted to their spiritual growth as well as to their intellectual development. The example of her living spoke to them in tones loud and clear that emphasized a positive influence in their lives.
Sister Genevieve’s call to prayer ministry at the Marian Convent in 1999 found her spiritually ready for the rigors of testing that was now to be part of her life. She accepted the Divine Will on the occasion of the leg amputations with “any religious would have done the same”- and she conveyed deep faith in that opinion as against the interior doubts of the rest of us.
Her final earthly relationships brought Sister Genevieve into contact with Sisters with whom she was not always well acquainted so this exchange proved rewarding both for them and for her.
I like to think that as her friend my own reward is one I have been given as a special gift. Like so many of our contemporaries we, Gen and I, had veered away from spiritually revealing conversations, I was touched therefore when she confided to me that she was grateful for that suffering in her life because it had brought her closer to God. This development has helped me to note the dramatic development of Genevieve’s spirituality in the final months of her life. And for that I offer deep gratitude to my God. I shall ever be thankful for Gen’s admitting me to her final “becoming.”
We are in great need of the lived example of the saints of our own day. They help us to continue to progress toward your promised kingdom, Lord. They promise nothing less than our sharing in Being Itself.
by Sr. Sheila Reilly, IHM
