Sister M. Jacinta Guinther, IHM
Sister M. Jacinta Guinther, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, September 19, 2013, at Regional Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on September 11, 1926, in Honesdale, PA, and given the name Elizabeth Ann. She was the daughter of the George and Rebecca Dean Guinther. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1946, made temporary profession of her vows on August 2, 1948, and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1954.
Sister Jacinta served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Agnes Elementary School in Lock Haven, PA, from 1948 to 1951; St. Charles Borromeo Elementary School in Sugar Notch, PA, in 1951; Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse, NY, from 1951 to 1959; Archbishop Neale Elementary School in La Plata, MD, from 1959 to 1960; St. Ephrem Elementary School in Brooklyn, NY, from 1960 to 1962 and 1978 to 1986; St. Patrick Elementary School in Spangler, PA, from 1962 to 1963; St. Ann Elementary School in Nyack, NY, from 1963 to 1964; Holy Trinity Elementary School in Poughkeepsie, NY, from 1964 to 1966; St. Ambrose Elementary School in Bridgeport, CT, from 1966 to 1978; Epiphany Elementary School in Sayre, PA, from 1986 to 1987; St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA, from 1987 to 1996; St. Rose Elementary School in Carbondale, PA, from 1996 to 1998; Sacred Heart Elementary School in Carbondale, PA, from 1998 to 2008; and Sacred Heart Primary Center in Carbondale, PA, from 2008 to 2011.
Sister Jacinta served as an itinerant teacher of reading at LaSalle Academy in Dickson City, PA, from 2011 until the time of her death.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in education and a Master of Science degree in education, both from Marywood College.
She is preceded in death by four brothers, James, Austin, Robert, and Dean, and two sisters, Catherine Dulay and Florence Dulay.
She is survived by a brother, Edward, and a sister, Grace Augello, both of Honesdale, PA.
The funeral will be Tuesday, September 24, at 9:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at St. Rose of Lima Church, 6 North Church Street in Carbondale. Friends may call at St. Rose of Lima Church on Monday, September 23 between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Interment will follow Mass on Tuesday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.
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 2014 issue
Those who lead many to justice will shine like stars for all eternity.
-Daniel 12:3b
Sister Jacinta was preeminently a teacher. School was her joy and her lifeline – particularly teaching religion. Each day her focus was leading morning prayer at Sacred Heart Elementary School and later LaSalle Academy. The children from Pre-k to eighth grade gathered
and prayed together every morning. They learned their prayers, the rosary, the Stations, prayed for family members who were sick and for world concerns that Sister Jacinta brought to their attention. It started their day–and hers. She gave this prayer time her life and her best energy. Sister Jacinta wanted to die “with her boots on” and her prayer was answered. LaSalle Academy faculty and students turned out mightily for Jacinta’s send-off at St. Rose Church.
Jacinta was also most generous with her time for her brothers and sisters who lived in the area, caring for several of them to their death.
Among her many fine skills around the convent, Jacinta was known for her delicious apple pies, fidelity to prayer time, delight in picking berries and seeing to it that the daily convent meal was nourishing and hearty. She loved the occasional trip to the casino and sports – a strong Notre Dame fan to the end.
Shine on, Jacinta!
by the Sisters from St. Joseph Convent, Carbondale, PA
