Sister M. Catherine Ruane, IHM
Sister M. Catherine Ruane, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, February 12, 1932 at St. Mary's Convent in Avoca, PA.
She was born on March 20, 1875 in Cross Melina, County Mayo, Ireland, and given the name Catherine. She entered daugher of the late Anthony and Mary McAndrews Ruane. She entered the IHM Congregation on March 19, 1894, received the religious habit on January 1, 1895, and made profession of her vows on February 2, 1897.
Sister Catherine enjoyed her years of teaching children in our IHM mission schools, including at St. Cecilia Academy in Scranton, PA.
She was preceded in deathy by two brothers, Anthony and Thomas.
She is survived by a sister, Mrs. Julia Hope of Scranton and Mrs. George Huston of Buffalo, NY; a brother, Dennis of Scranton; nieces and nephews.
The funeral was held on Monday, February 15 with Mass of Requiem at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Avoca, PA. Interment will follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, Pennsylvania. Friends may call on Sunday afternoon or evening at St. Mary's 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.
"Sister Mary Kathryn (sic) Died At St. Mary's
Sister Mary Kathryn (sic), a native of South Scranton, and a member of the Immaculate Heart Order of nuns for the last thirty-five years, died suddenly last evening at St. Mary's Convent in Upper Pittston (sic) of a heart attack.
Sister Mary Kathryn (sic) was about her duties yesterday as usual and shortly before supper was stricken with a heart attack and died before medical aid could be given. The Rev. George J. Dixon, pastor of St. Mary's Church administered the last rites of the church.
Sister Mary Kathryn (sic) prior to taking the religious vows was Miss Catherine Ruane and for the last year had been stationed at the Upper Pittston Convent. She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Anthony Hope, Scranton; and Mrs. George Huston, Buffalo, and a brother, George Ruane, Scranton.
The funeral will be held Monday morning with a solemn requiem mass in St. Mary's Church, Upper Pittston. Burial will be in Marymount cemetery."
from The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Sat., 13 Feb. 1932
The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary benefited from the efforts to bring young women from Ireland to Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Over the years a total of sixty-five young women became professed IHM religious. Their services were received as far west at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho at the IHM Academy and at St. Edward School, Twin Falls, Idaho. The southern missions witnessed their dedication in Washington, Raleigh, and Rocky Mount, North Carolina. It was remarked that black children in some southern schools were speaking with an Irish brogue! The Sisters from Ireland also served in many locations in Pennsylvania, such as Dushore, Lock Haven, Exeter, Altoona, Pittsburgh, St. Michael's School in Hoban Heights, Cresson, Pittston, Scranton, and Williamsport. New York and Rhode Island missions also received their services.
Excerpted from The Story of the Native Irish Sisters Who Entered the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Scranton Pennsylvania by Sister M. Michel Keenan, IHM, 2006, p.18
