Mother M. Josepha Hurley, IHM

Mother M. Josepha Hurley, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Wednesday, December 4, 1940, at Marywood College in Scranton, PA, during her second term as Superior General.

She was born on February 8, 1876 in Susquehanna, PA, and given the name Delia (Adelia). She was the daughter of the late Thomas George and Helen Maroney Hurley. She entered the IHM Congregation October 2, 1901 at St. Rose Novitiate in Carbondale, PA, received the religious habit on April 1, 1902, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1904.

Mother Josepha enjoyed her years of teaching children at our mission schools, including at St. Cecilia School in Wyoming, PA. She served as principal and superior at six IHM mission schools.

Mother Josepha was elected as Superior General of the IHM Congregation in 1931, and was re-elected for a second term in 1937. During her tenure sixteen new missions from Twin Falls, Idaho to Rocky Mount, North Carolina were opened. She also served as the fourth president of Marywood College in Scranton, PA, from 1931 to 1940.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marywood College, and a Master of Art degree from Fordham University in New York.

She was preceded in death by seven brothers, Edward W., John, Thomas H., Joseph, Stephen, Francis Loyola, and James A., and four sisters, Catherine Hurley, Mary E. Hurley, Ellen Hurley, and Margaret “Maggie” Hurley.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews, including Reverend Edward J. Hurley, of St. Rita’s Church in Detroit, Michigan, Thomas Hurley, Raymond Hurley, James Dooley and Wiliam Frye, all of Susquehanna, PA, Thomas Hurley of Roanoke, VA, and Charles Huntzberry of Baltimore, MD.

The funeral will be Saturday, December 7 at 10:00 a.m. at the Marywod College Chapel in Scranton, with Bishop William E. Hafey as celebrant and Reverend Edward J. Hurley as deacon. Interment to follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA. Scranton Diocesan schools will be closed on Friday, December 6 in Mother Josepha’s memory. Friends may call on Friday at the IHM Motherhouse, on the grounds of Marywood College.

Note:
Mother’s full name was Ellen Helen Maroney Hurley, but she went by Helen.
Father’s full name was Thomas George Hurley, Sr.