Sister Ann Belz, IHM

Sister Ann Belz, IHM, (formerly Sister Mary Lourdes) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, July 4, 2025, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

Born on March 24, 1937, in Baltimore, MD, and given the name Ann Elizabeth, Sister Ann was the daughter of the late Eugene and Helen Dotterweich Belz. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 7, 1955, made temporary profession of her vows on March 13, 1958, and final profession of her vows on June 22, 1963.  Sister Ann received a Bachelor of Music degree from Marywood College, and a Master of Music Education degree from Indiana University.

Sister Ann served as a teacher in the following schools: St. Patrick Elementary School in Oneida, NY, from 1958 to 1960; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Asbury Park, NJ, from 1960 to 1964; St. Mary Elementary School in Goldsboro, NC, from 1964 to 1968; Holy Name of Jesus Elementary School in Forty Fort, PA, from 1968 to 1970; St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1970 to 1972; Holy Trinity Elementary School in Poughkeepsie, NY, from 1972 to 1977 and 1996 to 2010; Wyoming Area Catholic Elementary School in Exeter, PA, from 1977 to 1981; St. Rose Elementary School in Carbondale, PA, from 1981 to 1982; Our Lady of Peace Elementary School in Clarks Green, PA, from 1982 to 1983; Pocono Central Catholic High School in Cresco, PA, from 1983 to 1988; St. Ann Elementary School in Nyack, NY, from 1988 to 1989; and Blessed Sacrament Elementary School in Staten Island, NY, from 1989 to 1996. She also served as an English and math tutor at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie, NY, from 2010 to 2020.

Sister also served as a support staff member of the school office at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie, NY, from 2020 to 2021.

From 2021 until the time of her death, Sister Ann was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Sister H. Clare, IHM, and Priscilla Jenkins, and a brother, Richard. Sister Ann is survived by two brothers, Eugene, Jr. of Clinton, IA, and Paul of Lutherville Timonium, MD; two sisters, Mary Jane of Lutherville Timonium, MD, and Elaine Ackerman of Arlington Heights, IL; and nieces and nephews, a grandniece, and cousins. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 1510 University Avenue in Dunmore, PA. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Wednesday, July 9, between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow Mass on Wednesday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Prayer and Funeral Mass