Sister M. Ildephonsus McCarthy, IHM
Sister M. Ildephonsus McCarthy, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, December 23, 1955.
She was born on February 20, 1864 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and given the name Hannah. She was the daughter of the late Florence and Mary Richardson McCarthy. She entered the IHM Congregation on May 25, 1881, received the religious habit on November 15, 1881, and made profession of her vows on September 5, 1883.
Sister Ildephonsus enjoyed her years of teaching children in our IHM mission schools. She also served as sister-assistant to Mother Germaine O'Neill at the IHM Motherhouse, as well as Directress of the Marywood Seminary, both located in Scranton, PA.
Sister served on the board of trustees for Marywood College in Scranton, PA.
Interment is 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.
Archival Remembrance:
Sister will always be remembered for her devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Her long life of service as a teacher, Superior and Councilor, was characterized by her spirit of prayer. Her many hours before the Blessed Sacrament are well known to hundreds of our Sisters. God blessed her with long, happy years of prayerful retirement.
"Sister M. Germaine, sister-assistant, was on August 7, 1913, elected to succeed Mother M. Cyril as Mother Superior of the Congregation. Mother Germaine organized her council as follows: Sister M. Ildephonsus, sister-assistant; Sister M. Borgia, sister-bursar; and Sister M, Camillus, mistress of novices. In addition to her duties as sister-assistant. Sister M. Ildephonsus was appointed directress of the seminary to succeed Sister M. Matthew, who had been transferred to the convent of St. Alphonsus in New York City. Sister M. Mercedes and Sister M. James were re-appointed examiners."
Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, p. 382
