Sister Katherine O’Neil, IHM

Sister Katherine O’Neil, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. St. Germaine) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

Born on May 28, 1941, in Harrisburg, PA, and given the name Katherine Cecelia, Sister Katherine was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Mary Germaine O’Neill O’Neil. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1959, made temporary profession of her vows on June 27, 1962, and final profession of her vows on June 27, 1967.  Sister Katherine received a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree both in elementary education, and a Master of Science degree in religious studies, all from Marywood College.

Sister Katherine served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Matthew Elementary School in Wilmington, DE, from 1964 to 1972; St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1972 to 1974; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Bellefonte, PA, from 1974 to 1975; Sacred Heart Elementary School in Mount Holly, NJ, from 1975 to 1976; and St. Thomas Elementary School in Bedford, PA, from 1976 to 1979.

Sister served as a pastoral assistant at the following parishes: St. Mary Star of Sea Parish in Indian Head, MD, from 1979 to 1980; St. Patrick Parish in Milford, PA, from 1980 to 1982; Holy Cross Mission in Pineville, WV, and St. John the Evangelist Parish in Mullens, WV, from 1996 to 2003.

Sister Katherine served as director of religious education at the following parishes: St. John the Evangelist Parish in Binghamton, NY, from 1982 to 1988; St. Helena Parish in Wilmington, DE, from 1988 to 1992; and St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Wilmington, DE, from 1992 to 1995.

At Most Holy Trinity Parish in Huntingdon, PA, Sister served as the pastoral associate of faith formation, from 2003 to 2014, and director of Christian initiation, from 2014 to 2017.

From 2018 until the time of her death, Sister Katherine was as a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.     

Sister Katherine is survived by a brother, Reverend Thomas of Washington, PA; two sisters, her twin sister, Mary Dunkerly, and Margaret (Peggy) O’Neil, both of Lewisburg, PA; and a nephew, Robert Dunkerly of Virginia.  She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Thursday, November 20, 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 Thursday, November 20, between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Pittsburgh, PA.

Prayer and Funeral

Reflection

Given by Sister Terri Jordan, IHM Leadership Team Member

Welcome, everyone, to the prayer and funeral liturgy for Sr. Katherine O’Neil, a/k/a Kay or Kate. I want to extend the congregation’s sympathy to her brother, Thomas, her sisters Mary and Peggy, and her nephew Robert.

Katherine had tremendous trust in God and gratitude for all that God had given her. She shared God’s love with all the people she encountered in her teaching, parish work, as a director of religious education, and in her everyday life. By her example, she taught about the belief in each person’s potential and the joy of service.

She was a person with a great sense of humor and a wicked laugh. She was sensitive to the needs of all people. When moving to a new residence, she would gently discuss the need for a different horarium when not all the sisters in the house taught school, which was beginning to happen within the congregation.

Kate was a strong advocate for social justice and environmental issues before they became popular. While in West Virginia, she became aware that much of the mountainous area was built on abandoned coal mines, leaving residents without clean drinking water. Through her tireless efforts, she eventually brought clean drinking water to the area.

One time, after a torrential rainstorm, many of the families living in the mountains lost everything. By this time, she had already made a name for herself with the then-governor and other political friends and was able to provide shelter for “her” people quickly.

Kate is now reunited with her parents, Lawrence and Mary O’Neil, her great-aunt, our former Superior General, Mother Mary Germain O’Neil, IHM, in eternal glory with the
God she so dearly loved.

In closing, I would like to share a piece from a 1979 letter to Sister Michel Keenan from Kate, “Someday I will be a butterfly; graceful, gentle of touch, adding beauty to its surroundings, a symbol of new life.”