Obituary

 

Sister Audrey McHale, IHM

Sister Audrey McHale, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. Justine) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on August 23, 1997 at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

She was born on February 20, 1934, in Pittston, Pennsylvania, and was the daughter of the late Aloysius and Magdalena Smallcomb McHale. She entered the Congregation on September 8, 1951, made temporary profession of her vows on August 2, 1954 and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1957.

Sister Audrey served as a principal or teacher at the following schools: St. Agnes Elementary School in Washington, NC, from 1954 to 1962; St. Bernardine Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1962 to 1965; St. Patrick Elementary School in Spangler, from 1965 to 1966; St. Thomas Elementary School in Bedford, from 1966 to 1968; St. Rita Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1968 to 1975; St. Ann Elementary School in Nyack, NY, from 1975 to 1978; St. Peter of Alcantara Elementary School in Port Washington, NY, from 1978 to 1979; St. Dominic Elementary School in Oyster Bay, NY, from 1979 to 1982; St. Ambrose Elementary School in Bridgeport, CT, from 1982 to 1984; Wyoming Area Catholic Elementary School in Exeter, from 1984 to 1986; Epiphany Elementary School in Sayre, from 1986 to 1987; St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in Archbald, from 1987 to 1988; Notre Dame Elementary School in East Stroudsburg, from 1989 to 1990; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Binghamton, NY, from 1990 to 1993; Msgr. McHugh Elementary School in Cresco, from 1993 to 1994; and Holy Rosary Elementary School in Scranton, from 1995 to 1997.

She served as princial in elementary schools located in Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and North Carolina.

Sister also served in the Writing to Read Program at Notre Dame Elementary School in East Stroudsburg, PA, from 1994 to 1995.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education, and a Master of Arts degree in education, both from Marywood College.

She was preceded in death by a brother Aloysius McHale, Jr.

She is survived by a sister Jule Hatrak, sister-in-law, Kathy McHale, nephews, George Hatrak of Pittston, PA, and Jeffrey Hatrak of Las Vegas, Nevada.

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.


Archival Remembrance:

A master teacher and gifted administrator, Sr. Audrey spent her entire religious life in education ministry, unleashing the potential of thousands of children. Her struggle with illness and her death on August 23, 1997 were a source of loss and pain for the many people whose lives she had touched in her more than 43 years as an IHM sister. Her skills and loving presence were invaluable gifts as she served as a teacher and principal in elementary schools in Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and North Carolina.