Sister M. Ambrose Cusick, IHM

Sister M. Ambrose Cusick, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, October 7, 1920, at St. Paul’s Convent in Scranton, PA.

She was born on October 25, 1859 in Overton Township, PA, and given the name Mary Ann (Annie). She was the daughter of the late Patrick and Catherine Flynn (O’Keefe) Cusick, and was raised in Overton, PA. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1884, received the religious habit on April 6, 1885, and made profession of her vows on December 21, 1886.

Sister Ambrose served as a teacher at St. Patrick Elementary School in Scranton, PA, and at St. Paul Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1912 until the time of her death.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Reverend Daniel Ambrose Cusick; a half-brother, Martin O’Keefe; and five half-sisters, Sister John Joseph O’Keefe, CSJ, Honora O’Keefe, Joanna Curran, Mary Brennan, Ellen O’Keefe and Catherine O’Keefe.

She is survived by a half-sister, Sister Mary Priscilla O’Keefe, CSJ, of California.

The funeral will be Saturday, October 9 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church in Scranton, PA, which will be be presided by Diocese of Scranton Bishop M.J. Hoban. Interment to follow at the Marywood College Cemetery, on the grounds of Marywood College in Scranton.

“The fourth offshoot from the mother house in the period of Mother Francis’ ministrations was established in Hyde Park, or West Scranton, as it is now called, where there had been a Catholic school as early as 1870. The school was held in the sacristy of the church and was taught by lay teachers. Misses Winifred Filan and Margaret O’Shaughnessy. The Hyde Park Church was served from the Cathedral, but in 1875 the parish of Saint Patrick’s was created and a new church built. Reverend J. B. Whelan took charge of the parish in 1882. As soon as Father Whelan completed the church he erected a parochial school which was opened January 4, 1887, with an enrollment of over five hundred pupils. Sister M. Alphonsine was appointed Superior. With her were associated: Sister M. Stanislaus, Sister M. Sebastian, Sister M. Angela, Sister M. Ignatius, Sister M. Bernard, Sister M. Ambrose, Sister M. Leo, and Sister M. Gonzaga. Father Whelan then built a new rectory and had the old rectory fitted up as a convent for the Sisters. It was painted white and henceforth known as “The White House.”

Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, pgs. 191, 192

“..Sister M. Ambrose Cusick died at Saint Paul’s Convent, Green Ridge, an exemplary death in October, 1920.”

Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, p. 488