Sister M. Agnes McHale, IHM
Sister M. Agnes McHale, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at the Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale, PA.
She was born on September 12, 1921 in Detroit, MI, and given the name Agnes L. She was the daughter of the late Leo and Alice McCarthy McHale. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1939, made temporary profession of her vows on May 8, 1942, and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1945.
Sister Agnes served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Paul Elementary School in Cranston, RI, from 1942 to 1943; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School in Forest Hills, NY, from 1943 to 1947; St. Ann Elementary School in Devon, CT, from 1947 to 1953; St. Henry Elementary School in Gresham, OR, from 1953 to 1963; St. Mary Elementary School in Pittston, PA, from 1963 to 1969; St. Peter of Alcantara Elementary School in Port Washington, NY, from 1969 to 1972; and St. Joseph Elementary School in Williamsport, PA, from 1980 to 1996.
Sister Agnes also served as principal at St. Ann Elementary School in Devon, CT, from 1972 to 1978, and Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1978 to 1980.
She also served as a library assistant at Bishop Hafey High School in Hazleton, PA, from 1996 to 2000; assistant at the IHM Art Studio in Scranton, PA, from 2000 to 2002; and receptionist at the IHM Center in Scranton, PA, from 2002 to 2005.
From 2005 until the time of her death, Sister Agnes served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent and at Our Lady of Peace Residence, both in Scranton, PA.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Marywood College, and a Master of Education degree in elementary administration from Duquesne University.
She is survived by a brother Jerome of Port Charlotte, FL, a sister Marie Sullivan of Girard, OH, nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be Friday, October 15, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Thursday, October 14, between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 6:00 p.m. Interment will follow Mass on Friday 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.
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Spring 2011 issue
Sister Agnes McHale was gentle and vibrant—a person people liked to be around. Even after many physical limitations set in, she had a ready smile and, on most days, even that twinkle in her eyes.
A truly beloved teacher in the classroom, Agnes, after leaving the classroom, continued teaching us from the chair to which she was confined. The lessons: being accepting of what is; being pleasant in the midst of suffering and adverse circumstances; being kind to caregivers, and living in the presence of our God and according to God’s desire.
Agnes’ father died when she, Jerome, and Marie were quite young. Her mother and my mother were sisters, and the bond between our families was very close. Naturally, her influence had a lot to do with my becoming an IHM also.
Fond memories and fun stories abound, not a few of which we heard during our gathering for her funeral: from the ambulance renamed the “Agnes Express” to the heart-warming statement that she was the kindest superior one ever knew. During her eighty-nine years she touched many who were fortunate to be her family, her IHM sisters, her students, co-workers, caregivers, and numerous friends.
We thank God for the gift of Agnes in our lives and the many, many happy memories we cherish.
by Robert Mary Murphy, IHM
