Sister Josine M. Shannon, IHM
Sister Josine M. Shannon, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, February 13, 2006 at the Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale, Pennsylvania.
She was born on March 19, 1923 in Providence, RI; and given the name Edna Marie. She was the daughter of the late Samuel and Florence Grinnell Shannon. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1943, made her temporary profession of vows on May 8, 1946, and her final profession of vows on August 2, 1949.
Sister Josine served as a teacher at the following schools: Laurel Hill Academy in Susquehanna, PA, in 1946; St. Ann High School in Scranton, PA, from 1946 to 1956; St. Mary of the Mount High School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1956 to 1958; Bishop Hannon High School in Scranton, PA, from 1958 to 1967; and Maria Regina Diocesan School in Uniondale, NY, from 1967 to 1975.
Sister also served as an admission clerk at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, PA, from 1975 to 1982; pastoral minister at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, PA, from 1983 to 1987; pastoral minister at Misericordia Hospital in New York, NY; support staff of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, DC, from 1987 to 1989; receptionist at St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton, PA, from 1989 to 1991; medical library assistant at Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale, PA, from 1991 to 2002; and volunteer at the at Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale, PA, from 2002 to 2004.
From 2004 until the time of her death, Sister Josine served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent, and Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.
She received a bachelor of arts degree in English and a masters of science degree in education both from Marywood College.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Robert; and a sister, Mary Virginia.
She is survived by a nephew, Michael Shannon of Saratoga Springs, NY; and a niece, Roberta Shannon.
The funeral will be Friday, February 17 at 10:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at the IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton followed by interment at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Friends may call at the IHM Center on Thursday, February 16, between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
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, Fall 2006 issue
Sr. Josine Shannon’s death came quietly on Monday morning, February 13, close to ten o’clock at the Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale. It was to be the day of her homecoming to Our Lady of Peace Residence. It was her true homecoming. Six IHM friends surrounded her as she quietly and gently breathed her final breaths.
Josine’s death mirrored her life. Words that surfaced again and again from friends, family, former students, and co-workers were these: serene, beautiful, careful and focused, hospitable, gracious and deeply quiet.
Though Josine was surely quiet, she was also a great lover of words – she loved the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, Jessica Powers, and E.E. Cummings. She loved the book A Woman Wrapped in Silence by William Lynch. She wrote carefully and beautifully. Her “thank you” notes were just right – labored over to say the perfect words.
Josine listened well. Her quiet left a space for others’ words. She was a champion Scrabble player. Josine was funny without telling jokes and certainly without laughing out loud! Most of her humor was in the perfect turn of a phrase. In her last hospital stay, she remarked one day, “It’s hard for me to keep up with all my disabilities.” This was said not in anger or bitterness – but with some amusement. Funny stories abound about this quiet woman.
Most of Josine’s ministry was in teaching - English - and words, words, words. But she was open to other ministries and she brought her calm to her pastoral care of the sick in New York and Carbondale. She brought her office skills and graciousness to the Vatican Nuntiature in Washington. The Medical Library at Marian Community Hospital was carefully kept. Josine did all things well. Praise God for the blessing of her life!
by Sr. Maria Rose Kelly, IHM
