Sister Louise Marie Leonard, IHM

Sister Louise Marie Leonard, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, August 10, 1998, at the Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale, PA.

She was born on January 12, 1910 in Mayfield, PA, and given the name Antoinette. She was the daughter of the late Matthew and Grace Rapoch Leonard. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 24, 1927, made temporary profession of her vows on December 27, 1929, and final profession of her vows on August 1, 1933.

Sister Louise Marie served as a teacher and librarian in the following schools: St. Patrick Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1929 to 1933; St. Ann Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1939 to 1946; St. Bernard Elementary School in Hastings, PA; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Altoona, PA; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Barnesboro, PA; St. Joseph Elementary School in Renovo, PA; and Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse, NY. She also taught at elementary schools located in Pittsburgh, PA, and LaPlata, MD.

Sister also served as a volunteer on the Onondago Indian Reservation located just south of Syracuse, NY; nurse’s aide and support staff member at the Marian Convent, from 1973 to 1986; office staff member at St. Ann’s Media (St. Ann’s Parish) in Scranton, PA, from 1992 to 1998; and lector during the annual St. Ann’s Novena at St. Ann’s Parish in Scranton, PA, from 1992 to 1998. During her later years, she also was actively engaged in a letter-writing ministry to prisoners.

From 1986 to 1992, Sister Louise Marie was a prayer minister at the Marian Convent.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies/English, and a Master of Science degree in library science, both from Marywood College.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary and Stella, and three brothers, Francis, Samuel and Matthew.

She is survived by two sisters, Joya Berry of Childs, PA, and Grace Linsinbigler of Carbondale, PA; two brothers, John and Dominick, both of Jermyn, PA; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

The funeral will be Thursday, August 13 at 10:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at the Marian Convent, followed by interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call on Wednesday after 2:00 p.m. at the Marian Convent.

Father’s name: Matteo “Matthew” Rinaldi Leonard – born in Egypt
Mother’s name: Grazia “Grace” Rappoccio (Rapoch) – born in Egypt