Sister H. Clare Belz, IHM
Sister H. Clare Belz, IHM, (formerly known as Sister Eugenia) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Wednesday, June 29, 1994, following an illness.
She was born on July 3, 1933 in Baltimore, MD, and given the name Helen Clare. She was the daughter of Helen M. Belz and the late Eugene G. Belz. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 7, 1951, received the religious habit on August 2, 1952 and made her profession of vows on August 2, 1954.
Sister Clare served as a teacher at the following schools: Our Lady of Grace Elementary School in Greensboro, NC; St. Ann Elementary School in Devon, CT; and at schools located in the following locations: Scranton and Williamsport, PA; Wilmington, DE; Forest Hills, Brooklyn and New York, NY; and Baltimore, MD.
In addition to her mother, Helen of Baltimore, MD; she is also survived by four sisters, Mary Jane Belz of Lutherville, MD; Sr. Ann Belz, IHM of Staten Island, NY; Priscilla Jenkins of Cockeysville, MD; and Elaine Ackerman of Arlington Heights, IL; three brothers, Eugene, Jr. of Clinton, IO; Paul of Lutherville, MD; and Richard of Columbia, MD; nieces and nephews
The funeral will be Saturday, July 2 with Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00 a.m. at the IHM Center Chapel. Interment will follow at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Friends may call at the Marian Convent on Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 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.
Archival Remembrance:
An outstanding teacher of music and mathematics, Sr. Clare (the former Sr. Eugenia) Belz touched the hearts of many. Her passing on to eternal life, at the age of 60, was a great sadness for her family, friends, students and religious sisters. Living in a spirit of gentleness and humility, she modeled this way of life for the children she taught in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, and Maryland. Sr. Clare's death on June 29 came only two days before the opening of the IHM Congregation's Chapter of Affairs. The celebration of her resurrection on the second day of Chapter served to remind the IHM sisters of their bond with all those IHMs who are enjoying an eternal life in a fuller presence of God.
