Sister M. Oswald Maria Hopkins, IHM
Sister M. Oswald Maria Hopkins, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, February 12, 1966 at the Mercy Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on September 23, 1903 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and given the name Nora. She was the daughter of the late Thomas and Mary Walsh Hopkins. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1923, received the religious habit on August 15, 1923, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1925.
Sister Oswald Maria served as a teacher at the following schools: IHM Academy in Coeur d'Alene, ID, from 1925 to 1931; St. Lawrence Elementary School in Portland, OR, from 1931 to 1933; St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1933 to 1939; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School in Rocky Mount, NC, from 1939 to 1943; St. Raymond Elementary School in Lynbrook, NY, from 1943 to 1957; and St. Clare Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1957 until the time of her death.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Sister M. Callista, IHM.
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:
If the saying "She is a born teacher" can be said of anyone, it may be said truly of this dear Sister. Her wonderful qualities made her especially treasured in the primary grades where she detected individual differences in the children and taught them how to help themselves and become self-reliant. The slow learner was encouraged not to feel his inadequacies, but to try to accomplish more and more; the gifted child was given additional work, so that all were working happily because they were achieving.
Sister M. Oswald Maria left her mark of excellence on the children in our western schools, Couer d' Alene and Portland; in the south, Baltimore and Rocky Mount; in Lynbrook where she passed fourteen years. Her memory is still held in respect and love at Saint Raymond's, as attested to by friends who came to view her in death and attend her funeral. For the past nine years, the children of St. Clare's, Scranton, were the happy recipients of the fruition of her experience. Her pupils loved her and endeavored to reach the goal of excellence, her constant challenge. This dedicated teacher was happy only when doing for others, so she threw herself into her school work despite great debility, until three weeks before a cruel illness took its final toll on February 12, 1966. May the Guardian Angels of the many children she taught lead her to Paradise.
