Sister Annella Kelly, IHM

Sister M. Annella Kelly, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died Saturday, November 13, 1993, at the Marian Community Hospital, Carbondale, PA.

She was born on March 4, 1905 in Brooklyn, NY, and given the name Julia. She was the daughter of the late Daniel Joseph and Julia A. Fairweather Kelly. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1934, received the religious habit on April 30, 1935, and made profession of her vows on May 3, 1937.

As a teacher of the primary grades, Sister Annella served on the faculty of St. Peter of Alcantara School in Port Washington, NY; St. Ann School in Nyack, NY; and St. Dominic School in Oyster Bay, NY. During her long career in education, Sister also taught at IHM schools in Scranton, PA, and Baltimore, MD.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Daniel William Jr., and three sisters, Sister M. Trinita, IHM, Catherine O’Brien, and Rita Milhaven.

She is survived by a sister, Helen Sargeant of Newago, MI, nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Tuesday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at the Marian Convent in Scranton. Interment will be at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call on Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Marian Convent.

Archival Remembrance:

The words of the psalmist, “Precious in your eyes, O God, is the death of your faithful ones,” seem to be written for Sr. Annella Kelly. Fidelity was a characteristic that marked Sr. Annella’ s life of service to children.

A primary teacher, she served in schools in Port Washington, Nyak, Oyster Bay, NY; Scranton, PA; and Baltimore, MD. There her quiet, gentle and gracious manner was reflected clearly.

Sr. Annella born March 4, 1905, was the daughter of the late Daniel Joseph and Julia A. Fairweather Kelly of Brooklyn, NY. After working several years in business, she entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1934, was received into the novitiate on April 30, 1935, and made profession of her vows on May 3, 1937.

Her life was marked by many painful experiences, including the deaths of a brother and three sisters, one of whom was her beloved companion, Sr. Trinita. Despite her sorrows, her friends say that she rarely uttered a word of complaint. Even her own death at the Marian Hospital was a moment marked with much pain, she endured quietly in a spirit of prayer.