Obituary

 

Sister M. Thecla McAvoy, IHM

Sister M. Thecla McAvoy, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died Wednesday, May 20, 1981 at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

She was born on May 8, 1889 in Rock Lake, Pennsylvania, and given the name Martha. She was the daughter of the late Paul A. and Hannah Kane McAvoy. She served as a teacher in Mount Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania, before entering the community.  She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1918, received the religious habit on August 2, 1919, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1921. 

Sister Thecla served as an intermediate grade teacher at the following schools: St. Michael's School for Boys in Hoban Heights, PA; Epiphany Elementary School in Sayre, PA; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Pittston, PA; St. Mary Elementary School in Avoca, PA; and at elementary schools located in Altoona and Cresson, PA.  She also served as principal in several of these schools.

She is preceded in death by five sisters, Sarah Theresa McAvoy, Mary Gertrude Evans, Rose Estella (Stella) Gunn, Hannah Loretta (Loretta) Bigelow, and Josephine Constance McGarry, and four brothers, William John, Matthew Janes, Paul Norbert, and Benedict Joseph.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Saturday, May 23 at the Marian Convent with Mass of Christian Burial set for 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Catherine's Cemetery in Moscow, Pennsylvania. Friends may call at the Marian Convent Friday afternoon or evening.

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.