Sister M. deChantal McHale, IHM
Sister M. deChantal McHale, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, May 5, 1961.
She was born on January 25, 1893 in Danville, Pennsylvania, and given the name Sarah Elizabeth. She was the daughter of the late Michael Edward and Gertrude Marie Coxey McHale. She entered the IHM Congregation on July 2, 1910, received the habit on August 2, 1911, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1913.
Sister deChantal served as a music teacher at the following schools: St. Patrick Elementary School in Spangler, PA, from 1913 to 1917; St. Patrick Elementary School in White Haven, PA, from 1917 to 1926; and Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Elementary School in New York, NY, from 1926 to 1927.
Sister served as principal and teacher at the following schools: Mother of Mercy High School in Washington, NC, from 1927 to 1944 and 1950 to 1951; St. Agnes Elementary School in Washington, NC, from 1945 to 1950; and St. Joseph Elementary School in Williamsport, from 1951 to 1957.
She also served as directress of O'Reilly Hall at Marywood College in Scranton, PA, from 1944 to 1945.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, John, Michael and Edward.
She is survived by two sisters, Sabina Demas of Philadelphia, PA, and Gertrude Johnson of Bristol, PA; four brothers, Robert of Sunbury, PA, Bernard of Guam, Thomas of Whitley City, KY, and Albert of Yeadon, PA; nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
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:
Sister M. de Chantal McHale was a missionary in the full apostolic meaning of that word. Endowed by nature with a joyous, generous outlook on life, and matured by good training and healthy self-discipline, she brought to the uncharted missionary labor of North Carolina, a fresh approach, an ardent zeal, and an unbounded spirit of generosity. From sheet material nothingness, she led her companion Sisters to forge a new path for the African American children and the adults of Mother Mercy Mission, where once had reigned neglect and ignorance. She burned with zeal to have them enjoy their God-given rights; they must be trained to realize their privilege as children of God; their teaching must be of the highest level; their learning equal to that achieved in our best schools. As a result, Mother of Mercy High School was the first Catholic High School accredited by the State of North Carolina. In all her teaching, Sister gave all of her students the best in religion, music, art, and literature, and she always maintained a high decree of academic excellence in her schools. She labored in a spirit of holy joyousness and unmeasured labor. Only in eternity may we know the treasury of merit she amassed, and the abundant good she achieved.
