Woman of Mystery

Born in Miners Mills, PA, (later referred to as Plains, PA), on December 26, 1886, Isabelle (or Isabella or Isabel) D. Cawley (often referred to as Lizie) graduated from Sacred Heart School in Wilkes-Barre, PA, on June 17, 1903; she was valedictorian of her class. She attended Lock Haven Normal School and graduated from there in 1905. Our IHM records indicate that she entered in 1903 or 1904, was received in 1905, and was professed in 1907. How was she able to attend Normal School and be a Postulant at the same time? According to Sister Immaculata Gillespie, in January 1902 Immaculate Conception School in Lock Haven was opened; since the convent had previously been a boarding school there were a lot of empty bedrooms. The Central State Normal School at Lock Haven offered to give the Sisters diplomas when they finished the required courses, so many Postulants were sent to Lock Haven to be trained as teachers. That is possibly how Sister Majella attended Lock Haven Normal School and was a Postulant at the same time.

Sister Majella was well known in both the Scranton area and Pittsburgh. She taught in Holy Rosary, North Scranton; St. Patrick’s, West Scranton; St. Patrick’s, Olyphant; St. John’s, Susquehanna; and in Pittsburgh. We do not know in which Pittsburgh school she taught—Mount St. Mary’s or St. Rosalia’s. There is also some confusion as to whether she died in the convent in Pittsburgh or at Marywood in Scranton. According to The Times Tribune of Scranton, dated November 4, 1925, she died in Pittsburgh on November 2, and her body was brought back to Marywood on November 3; her funeral was held at 10:00 a.m. on November 5, 1925. But the Pittston-Gazette on November 4, states that she died in Scranton.

One thing we do know is that she is buried in the little cemetery here on campus. She may not have anyone in her family living to pray for her, but we are her IHM family and we offer prayers for her now.