The Alpine Sun Treatment

Rose Mary Brice was born in Freeland, PA, in October of 1866. She entered the IHMs on September 9, 1889, was received on April 8, 1890, and professed on May 24, 1892. At her reception she was one of six postulants to be given the white veil of a novice and was given the name Sister Rose. In 1890 the IHM sisters took up the work of caring for deserted orphans in the city of Scranton at the request of Bishop O’Hara. Sister Celestine Moran was the first superior with Sister Blandina Gallagher and Sister Rose as assistants in the work. Sister Celestine and Sister Rose were also present in 1908 at the groundbreaking of the new facility on Adams Avenue and continued their ministry of childcare at St. Joseph’s Foundling Home, later called St. Joseph’s Children’s and Maternity Hospital. Sister Rose became superintendent of the hospital in 1920 following the death of Sister Celestine in 1919.

Newspaper accounts of her life describe Sister Rose as a scholar and capable woman. They state that she turned St. Joseph’s from a small institution to one of the finest institutions of its kind in the country. She brought to the home one of the latest health programs for the residents—The Alpine Sun Treatment. This treatment required the erection of sun glass buildings or the use of heated lamps every day to improve the health of the children. Anything she could do to help these children and infants she did.

At the age of 62, Sister Rose was serving as the as the director of St. Joseph’s when she suffered a stroke. Upon her death, her body was taken from the hospital to the chapel at Marywood for her funeral. Several hundred sisters and priests were present at the funeral. Her six brothers were helpful in transferring her body from the chapel to St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA, for her burial.

We know that St. Joseph’s is a fine institution today, but Sister Rose helped it to grow from a small hospital and orphanage to one of the finest centers of caring in the country.