Sister Jean Marie Swift, IHM

Sister Jean Marie Swift, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. Rosaire) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, April 12, 1957, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.

She was born on March 19, 1890, in Dunmore, PA, and given the name Marie. She was the daughter of the late John Edward and Catherine Stevens Swift. She entered the IHM Congregation on August 15, 1918, received the religious habit on August 2, 1919, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1921.

Sister Jean Marie served as a teacher at St. Mary Elementary School in Avoca, PA; St. Paul School in Scranton, PA; and Nativity of Our Lord School in in Scranton, PA.

Sister served as principal and superior at St. Basil High School in Dushore, PA. She also served as the prefect of studies at South Scranton Catholic High School in Scranton, PA.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Dr. Frank Louis and Dr. Donald Albert.

She is survived by two brothers, Dr. John Edgar and Walter, both of Scranton, PA; two sisters, Clare Eugena Jeffrey of Dunmore, and Elizabeth Kathryn Loughney of Springfield, PA; nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Monday, April 15, with mass at 9:30 am atthe Marian Convent, followed by interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA. Friends may call on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm at the Marian Convent.

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Archival Remembrance:

Five years of illness gave Sister Jean Marie the holy opportunity of doing God’s will in retirement from the active apostolate of teaching. She had been a fine teacher, conscientious and kind. Her former pupils recall her as a painstaking, cultured educator, who looked for perfection in her students, and labored hard to achieve it. Naturally, she had found joy in her active life. When no longer able for school work, she humbly submitted to God’s plan for her. Resignedly, she went apart “to rest awhile.” She brought to it the same gentle, refined spirit by which she is remembered in health. Through these years, she drew herself and others closer to God. Sickness is an index of character, and by this standard, Sister Jean Marie exemplified the virtues of a true religious. Her patience and gratitude were always in evidence. Those who cared for her, as well as her devoted family, were inspired by her holy example. She calmly and peacefully faced her death. Surely God and His Immaculate Mother must have welcomed this good Sister who waited so patiently for His final call.