Sister M. Felicitas Ryan, IHM
Sister M. Felicitas Ryan, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died Saturday, December 17, 1988, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania, after an illness.
She was born March 10, 1896 in Susquehanna, Pennsylvani; and was the daughter of the late Martin J. and Mary Callahan Ryan. She entered the IHM Congregation on December 8, 1912, was received into the novitiate on August 2, 1913, and made profession of her vows on July 6, 1915.
Sister Felicitas served as principal and local superior at the following schools: Holy Rosary in Scranton, PA; St. Rosalia in Pittsburgh, PA; St. Ephrem in Brooklyn, NY; St. Patrick in Oneida, NY; and St. Matthew in East Stroudsburg, PA. She was an education consultant for schools staffed by the IHM Sisters for a period of twelve years, and later taught in the Marywood College Departments of Theology and English.
Sister Felicitas also served as a member of the General Council of the IHM Congregation, and the Marywood College Board of Trustees. She was the founder of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Education Conference, a professional organization of the three branches of the IHM Congregation in Monroe, Michigan; Immaculata and Scranton, Pennsylvania.
From 1984 until the time of her death, she served in prayer ministry at the Marian Convent.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and English from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts degree in music from the University of Chicago, and a Master of Arts degree in theology from Marywood College. She also earned a certificate in theology from the Catholic University of America; and did further graduate study at the University of Toronto, Stanford University, and the University of Geneva in Switzerland.
She is preceded in death by three brothers, Dr. Martin, Francis, and Paul; and two sisters, Margaret and Lucille.
She is survived by nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be Tuesday, with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in the Marian Convent Chapel. Interment will be at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, Pennsylvania. Friends may call at the Marian Convent on Monday 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.
Archival Remembrance of Sister M. Felicitas Ryan:
In her long career in education, Sister Felicitas served as a music teacher at the elementary, secondary and college level. As supervisor of music for IHM staffed schools, she composed a course of study and established the teaching of music as an integral part of the curriculum in these schools.
Sister Felicitas served as principal and local superior at schools located in New York and Pennsylvania. She was education consultant for schools staffed by the IHM Sisters for a period of twelve years, and taught in the Marywood College Departments of Theology and English.
Sister Felicitas also served as a member of the General Council of the IHM Congregation and the Marywood College Board of Trustees. She was the founder of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Education Conference, a professional organization of the three branches of the IHM Congregation in Monroe, Michigan; Immaculata and Scranton, Pennsylvania. The IHM Conference is still active today.
In 1977, Sister Felicitas took up semi-retired residence at Maria Regina High School in Uniondale, New York, and in 1984, she came to the Marian Convent at Marywood.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and English, a Master of Arts degree in music, and a Master of Arts degree in theology. She also earned a certificate in theology from the Catholic University of America; and did further graduate study at the University of Toronto, Stanford University, and the University of Geneva in Switzerland, among others.
