Sister Maureen Willis, IHM

“Being a twin is like being born with a best friend”

I lived with Sister Maureen Willis. At one point, she (living in Exeter, PA) and her twin sister, Doreen (living in Maryland) sent each other the same birthday card! I knew then that there is something very special in the bond between twins, something – when I asked Maureen – that even she doesn’t understand!

Maureen was born shortly after the end of WWII in Carbondale, PA. She’s the daughter of Roderick and Winnie Willis. Though Maureen was born first, her parents were not expecting twins! They’d picked out the name Maureen so, when they learned they were having twins, they just went with a similar sounding name, Doreen. For those of us who know them and see them together, they are easy to tell apart. But, when you see one alone, you often called whichever twin you were with by the other’s name! It’s become a lifelong frustration for them both!

Maureen’s father was a night watchman for Gentex that, at that time went from producing parachutes to military supplies. A prayerful man, he attended daily Mass before returning home. He also led his family in saying the Rosary. Her mother worked as a waitress at the Scranton Tea Room in the Dry Goods Department Store. As a Scranton resident, it was a place I visited often!

Maureen had two older brothers, Richard and Donald (both deceased) and a younger sister, Pat, whom many IHMs probably know as she served as a nurse in the IHM-sponsored hospital, St. Joseph’s, in Carbondale.

Maureen attended St. Rose Grade School and High School being taught by the IHMs. At one point, Maureen discovered that both she and Doreen had a vocation and intended to join the IHMs because of the sisters’ kindness and dedication and because they were happy women! Sister Beth Pearson taught the twins at St. Rose and served as their sponsor.

Their parents asked them to wait a year after graduation before entering. As they were twins, their parents wanted to be sure they both had a vocation. Once they entered, the sisters in charge of their formation all had the same skepticism and were constantly testing them to be sure they should be professed as IHMs – that was in 1969. As it’s now 2026, that question has definitely been answered in the affirmative!

Both Maureen and Doreen have degrees in Elementary Education and are certified Reading Specialists. Maureen always preferred to teach second grade because that’s the grade level when students are prepared to receive the Sacraments of First Penance and Holy Communion.

Sister Maureen has fond memories of the time she spent at St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore from 1979 to 1983. She had a great local community, wonderful colleagues and an excellent principal. She had a similar experience during her time at Wyoming Area Catholic in Exeter, PA. where she also had a supportive principal. There, an avid sports fan, Maureen also took on training the cheerleaders.

At one point in her life, Maureen developed back pain, so she completed her teaching career at St. Clare’s (her longest ministry stay) by serving as a kindergarten aide/substitute teacher and volunteer. From there, she moved into OLP and, not surprisingly, Sister Doreen has replaced her at St. Clare’s!

Maureen and Doreen’s free time has been greatly enhanced by one of their nephews who is a corporate lawyer with an office in London. They have travelled to Rome, Assisi and Venice!

Maureen is grateful to be at OLP and she’s now a faithful member of the Heartworks staff.