Mother M. Germaine O'Neill, IHM
Mother M. Germaine O'Neill, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, September 13, 1928.
She was born on March 23, 1861 in Sheffield, England, and given the name Agnes. She was the daughter of Michael and Mary Hines O'Neill. The family immigrated to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and eight of the children attended St. Joseph School there. She entered the IHM Congregation on August 5, 1880, received the religious habit on December 21, 1880 at St. Rose in Carbondale, and made profession of her vow on August 15, 1882.
Sister Germaine served as mistress of the novitiate normal school, examiner of all schools within the IHM Congregation, and teacher at IHM mission schools including, St. Rosalia School in Pittsburgh, PA.
Mother Germaine was elected as Assistant Superior General in 1907 and then elected Superior General of the Congregation on August 7, 1913. In 1914, she wrote the first Marywood College Catalog and in 1915 Marywood College opened its doors.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Catholic University in Washington, DC.
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.
"Mother M. Germaine was thoroughly familiar with the work of the schools. From the time of her profession until her appointment to the important post of examiner of schools in 1896, she had been in charge of the normal school of the novitiate. She had given much time and attention to the study of pedagogy, and was familiar with its principals and methods. The normal school flourished under her care, and those whom she trained proved themselves capable and efficient teachers. During her long service as examiner of schools she had ample opportunity to study the school system inaugurated and test its results. Mother Germaine was thus in a position, by reason of her experience, to direct the congregation toward an all important end, the education of the children committed to its care."
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, 383
