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, at Marywood College in Scranton, PA.

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, PA, 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, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1882.

After completing her term as a novice at Carbondale, Sister Germaine was placed in charge of the Novitiate Normal School in Carbondale. She had been closely identified with the school system, and from the beginning of her career was largely responsible for establishing the speldid reputation for work in pedagogy.

Sister Germaine was appointed supervisor of the schools of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, from 1896 to 1913. While holding this position, she was assistant superior of the mother house and directress of the seminary department at Mount St. Mary’s.

Mother Germaine was elected as Assistant Superior General in 1907, and then elected Superior General of the Congregation on August 7, 1913. Immediately after assuming her duties as superior general, Mother Germaine undertook the work of planning new buildings for the college department. She also brought to completion various other schools including: St. Alphonsus School in New York City; Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Patton, PA; a foreign mission school for the Marynoll Sisters as Ossining, NY; St. Michael’s Industrial School for Boys in Hoban Heights, PA; Most Holy Rosary School in Syracuse, NY; St. Bernard School in Hastings, PA; and St. Mary School in Cresson, PA.

At Marywood College in Scranton, PA, Sister was a member of the first board of directors, and in 1914, she wrote the first Marywood College Catalog. Mother Germaine served as the first president and treasurer, from 1915 to 1919.

Later, Mother Germaine served as superior at Most Holy Rosary Convent in Syracuse, NY, and the Immaculate Heart Convent in Lock Haven, PA.

From September 1928 until the time of her death, Mother Germaine resided at Marywood College.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree, both from Catholic University in Washington, DC. Mother Germaine was first president of the college alumnae at Catholic University. She published two volumes entitled, Odes and Fancies and When the World Was White With May.

She is survived by three sisters, Marion Golden of Williamsport, PA, and Beatrice Malloy and Anne O’Neill, both of New Castle, PA; two brothers, Andrew and Daniel, both of New Castle, PA; nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Monday, December 17, at 9:30 a.m. with a high mass of requiem in the chapel at Marywood College, Scranton, with Reverend Dr. J.J. McCabe, of Wilkes-Barre, as celebrant. The eulogy and final absolution will be pronounced by Right Reverend Thomas C. O’Reilly, Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton. Interment will be at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow, PA.

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“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