Sister M. Aquin O’Brien, IHM

Sister M. Aquin O’Brien, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, January 29, 1944, at St. Ann’s Convent in Devon, CT.

She was born on August 24, 1916 in Pittsburgh, PA, and given the name Ruth Elizabeth. She was the daughter of John and Emma Radley O’Brien. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1934, received the habit on April 30, 1935, and made profession of vows on May 3, 1937.

Sister Aquin served as a teacher at St. Patrick School in Scranton, PA. From 1939 until the time of her death, Sister Aquin served as a religion teacher at St. Ann’s Catechetical Center in Devon, CT.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, John R., and Edward.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by two brothers, Joseph and Eugene, nieces, nephews, and a first cousin in community, Sister M. Germana Radley, IHM.

The funeral will be on Monday, January 31, at St. Ann’s Church in Devon, CT. Locally a Mass of Requiem will be held on Tuesday, February 1, at St. Catherine’s Church in Moscow, followed by interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow. Reverend William L. Donovan will be the celebrant.

Archival Remembrance:

Ruth O’Brien, a young woman from Pittsburgh, entered the IHM Congregation in 1934; she took the name Sister Aquin. One of her assignments which began in 1939 was teaching religion classes at the newly established catechetical school in Devon, CT. The sisters at Devon became a great source of fun, faith and family in the town. They were well respected and loved. The catechetical center was the forerunner of the parochial school for St. Ann Parish. One story is told that Sister Aquin arranged for prayers for a child who was severely ill and on the verge of death. The child recovered and the parishioners consider this healing a miracle. Sister Aquin’s life was cut short by illness and she died in Devon in 1944 at the age of 27.