An IHM for 49 Years

Elizabeth White was born in Williamsport, PA, on December 4, 1866. She entered the IHMs at St. Rose Novitiate on February 22, 1883, was received on September 5, 1883, was given the name Ignatius, and was professed on August 25, 1885, all at St. Rose in Carbondale. Sister Ignatius spent most of her 49 years of religious profession teaching in Scranton and Carbondale, PA.

Newspaper accounts of her life state that she was well known for her great knowledge and many degrees. She taught at St. John the Evangelist School in South Scranton where she was a member of the first community of sisters to staff the school in 1887; St. Paul School in Green Ridge, Scranton; Marywood College; and St. Rose School in Carbondale.

Sister Ignatius was stationed at St. Rose Convent in Carbondale, PA, when she was struck with a case of pneumonia. She died on May 11, 1932, just one week after she contracted the illness. She was waked in the Chapel of St. Joseph’s Hospital. According to newspaper accounts, her funeral at St. Rose Church was filled with many priests and sisters from the Scranton area, as she was one of the best-known sisters in the diocese. She was buried in Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery in Finch Hill, outside of Carbondale.

An interesting aside is that her niece, Sister Teresina Thompson, IHM was born in 1893 and died in 1977. It is possible that she may have shared stories about her aunt, Sister Ignatius, with other sisters. If so, the Archives staff would appreciate your sharing those stories with them to be preserved with Sister Ignatius’ record.