Sister M. Jamesann McCue, IHM
Sister M. Jamesann McCue, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, November 26, 2018, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She was born on August 15, 1928 in New York, NY and given the name Mary. She was the daughter of the late James and Anna Bennett McCue. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 7, 1952 and made her temporary profession of vows on August 3, 1955 and her final profession of vows on August 3, 1958.
Sister Jamesann served as a teacher at the following schools: Cathedral Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1955 to 1958; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Binghamton, NY, from 1958 to 1960; St. Paul Elementary School in New Bern, NC, from 1960 to 1966; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Bellefonte, PA, from 1966 to 1968; St. Joseph School in Danville, PA, from 1968 to 1970; St. Raphael Elementary School in St. Petersburg, FL, from 1970 to 1977; Santisimo Nombre de Jesus Elementary School in Lima Peru, from 1977 to 1983; St. Rita Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1983 to 1986; and St. Mary Elementary School in Upper Marlboro, MD, from 1986 to 1987.
She also served as an assistant in the IHM Business Office assistant at the IHM Center in Scranton, PA, from 1987 to 1996; and pastoral care coordinator at Holy Family Parish in St. Petersburg, FL, from 1996 to 2006.
From 2006 until the time of her death, Sister Jamesann was a prayer minister at Holy Family Convent in St. Petersburg, FL and later at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She received Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in elementary education from Marywood College.
She is survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.
The funeral will be Friday, November 30, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Friday, November 30 between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow Mass on Friday 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.
Funeral: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/118481150
Vespers: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/118472128
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Spring 2019 issue
Reflection given by Sister Ellen Maroney, IHM Congregation President
Sister M. Jamesann McCue, Funeral November 30, 2018
“Those we hold closest to our hearts
never truly leave us.
They live on in the kindness they
have shared and the love they brought
into our lives.”
(Author Unknown)
Since receiving word of Jamesann’s death, I have heard countless stories about her generosity, joyfulness, humor, dedication, and genuine love of life. Those qualities and the way she lived them out every day showed all of us what trust in God and true selfless love really is and surely that legacy of love will be forever in our hearts.
Prayer was central to Jamesann’s life journey. All who met her saw a woman whose gratitude to God for her vocation and for the many gifts in her life was always evident. Her lifetime of unwavering fidelity to and love for her God was her anchor at all times, and was the source of her zest for life. Each day was precious to Jamesann because she was on a mission—the IHM mission, God’s mission really—and she relished her opportunity to share the joy and compassion of that mission with others. Always true to her Bronx, New York roots, she exuded integrity and sincerity. She was a great friend who loved to share stories or hear a good joke or quietly listen to another’s story. She enjoyed community gatherings and celebrations and was known to get up and do a dance step or two if the opportunity presented itself. However, I’m told that her usual fun-loving nature could be briefly overcome by a pretty intense competitive spirit when she sat down to a game of cards, though I bet she enjoyed the camaraderie even more than winning.
A woman of many talents and interests, Jamesann’s true passion was always teaching. She taught for over thirty-two years in schools in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Maryland, and Lima, Peru. At each of the schools, she left a tradition of excellence, caring, and generous commitment. So many young children benefitted from her bright mind and gentle, loving presence. Her quick smile and understanding, kindness and belief in each person’s potential were life-long lessons she modeled for her students every day. Even in Peru, where she struggled with learning the Spanish language, her perseverance, humility, and desire communicated far more profound lessons of respect and care than the most perfectly pronounced words ever could. Jamesann also ministered as a pastoral care coordinator in Florida and assistant in the IHM Business Office before coming to Our Lady of Peace as a prayer minister. Her gifts of enthusiasm, generosity, dedication, and joy lifted countless spirits, young and old, wherever she went. We will miss her presence, but will never forget her many lessons.
We pray very specially today in memory of Jamesann’s parents, Anna and James, with whom she is celebrating a wonderfully joyous reunion in heaven. We pray for those whose lives were touched by Jamesann’s kindness and love of life, especially her IHM sisters and dear friends in community, her Band members, and all those who accompanied her on her life’s journey. We hold in our prayers too the sisters, staff, and administrators here at Our Lady of Peace Residence, especially those in Household 2C.
Jamesann’s presence among us enriched our lives. She energized us with her zest for life. She encouraged and comforted us, connected and inspired us. Her compassion for others softened our hearts; her joyful spirit lifted our souls. Her faith and trust in God’s abundant love and mercy drew us ever deeper in our own experience of the Holy. A letter to Jamesann from Sister Redempta, the congregation administrator at the time, stated this truth so well: “You bring . . . a most loving and generous spirit, and I am confident that your deep spirituality will continue to enrich the lives of the sisters and of all those to whom you minister.” We are forever changed and forever grateful because Jamesann was in our lives. There is a silence, a quiet sadness that moves through each of us today, but little by little, we will begin to remember not just that Jamesann died, but that she lived, and her life gave us precious memories too beautiful to forget.
Jamesann did indeed hear the Word of God, she staked her life upon it and received life to the full . . . the Word now beckons her home. Sister St. Henry will now place Jamesann’s bible on the table.
