Sister M. Aquinas McMenamin, IHM

Sister M. Aquinas McMenamin, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Wednesday, January 2, 1946, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, PA.

She was born on September 23, 1863 in Buncrana, County Donegal, Ireland, and given the name Sophia. She was the daughter of the late Hugh and Ellen Hegarty McMenamin. She entered the IHM Congregation on April 3, 1888, received the religious habit on July 12, 1888, and made profession of her vows on July 20, 1890.

Sister Aquinas served as a teacher at the following schools: Holy Rosary School in Scranton, PA; St. John the Evangelist School in Pittston, PA; St. Cecilia Academy in Scranton, PA; St. Patrick School in Scranton, PA; St. John School in Susquehanna, PA; and St. Alphonsus School in New York City, NY.

From 1940 until the time of her death, Sister Aquinas engaged in the ministry of prayer at St. Agnes Place in Elmhurst, PA.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Michael and John; and five sisters, Anne O’Sullivan, Ellen Cecilia Watson, Sister M. Augustine McMenamin, IHM, Sister St. Ann of Jesus McMenamin, SSHJM, and Sister St. Charles McMenamin, OMI.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews, including a niece in community, Sister M. Anita O’Sullivan, IHM, stationed at St. Dominic School in Oyster Bay, NY, and a nephew, Reverend Vincent Hugh Watson, C.SS.R., stationed in New York.

The funeral will be January 4, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Catherine’s Church in Moscow, PA, with interment to follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow. Friends may call on Thursday at St. Agnes Place, Elmhurst.

The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary benefited from the efforts to bring young women from Ireland to Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Over the years a total of sixty-five young women became professed IHM religious. Their services were received as far west at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho at the IHM Academy and at St. Edward School, Twin Falls, Idaho. The southern missions witnessed their dedication in Washington, Raleigh, and Rocky Mount, North Carolina. It was remarked that black children in some southern schools were speaking with an Irish brogue! The Sisters from Ireland also served in many locations in Pennsylvania, such as Dushore, Lock Haven, Exeter, Altoona, Pittsburgh, St. Michael’s School in Hoban Heights, Cresson, Pittston, Scranton, and Williamsport. New York and Rhode Island missions also received their services.

Excerpted from The Story of the Native Irish Sisters Who Entered the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Scranton Pennsylvania by Sister M. Michel Keenan, IHM, 2006, p.18