Sister M. Baptista Gallagher, IHM

Sister M. Baptista Gallagher, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, December 17, 1960, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, PA.

She was born on August 9, 1883 in Inkerman, PA, and given the name Mary. She was the daughter of the late William and Mary Granahan Gallagher. She entered the IHM Congregation on July 2, 1906, received the religious habit on December 27, 1906, and made profession of her vows on April 13, 1909.

Sister Baptista served as a domestic and cook at the following institutions: St. Joseph School in Renovo, PA, from 1909 to 1916; St. John’s Convent in Pittston, PA, from 1916 to 1936; St. Peter’s (Cathedral) Convent in Scranton, PA, from 1936 to 1941; St. Joseph’s Founding Home in Scranton, PA, from 1941 to 1942; St. Joseph’s Shelter in Scranton, PA, from 1942 to 1943; St. Cecilia’s Convent in Exeter, PA, from 1943 to 1944; St. Mary’s Home in Cresson, PA, from 1944 to 1949; and St. Michael’s Industrial School in Hoban Heights, PA, from 1949 to 1957. She also served in child care for resident children at St. Michael’s Industrial School.

From 1957 until the time of her death, Sister Baptista served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.

She was preceded in death by four brothers, Anthony, Joseph, Thomas and William, and three sisters, Jetta Gallagher, Margaret Mellett and Catherine Maloney.

She is survived by a sister, Agnes Gallagher of Cedar Rapids, IA, nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Monday, December 19 at 9:30 a.m. at the Marian Convent in Scranton, followed by interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA. Friends may call Sunday afternoon at the Marian Convent.

Archival Remembrance:

For most of her long life, Sister M. Baptista served our Congregation in the intimacy of our convents. In her years of good health, she was a hard worker and gave our community good service. Her keen sense of humor and witty sayings gave much merriment to her companions in Religion. Her last years of service we spent at St. Michael’s School, Hoban Heights, where she generously sewed and mended for the boys of that institution and extended to them many an offering of good advice and motherly concern. God grant Sister Baptista eternal rest, and a rich reward for her years of service to our Congregation.

Note: Sister Baptista was one of eleven children born to William and Mary Josephine Granahan Gallagher, nine of whom survived past 1928, and are listed above.