Sister M. Berchmans Gallagher, IHM

Sister M. Berchmans Gallagher, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Tuesday, December 16, 1941, at St. Alphonsus Convent in New York City, NY.

She was born on June 29, 1862 in White Haven, PA, and given the name Maria. She was the daughter of the late Martin and Bridget McDonald Gallagher. She entered the IHM Congregation on June 3, 1880, received the religious habit on December 21, 1880, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1882.

Sister Berchmans served as a teacher at the following schools: St. John the Evangelist High School in Pittston, PA; St. Rose High School in Carbondale, PA; St. Joseph School in Williamsport, PA; St. John the Evangelist School in Scranton, PA; and St. Cecilia School in Exeter, PA.

Sister was appointed superior at St. Cecilia’s Convent, Exeter, when it was opened in 1904, and directed a newly founded community of the Sisters of St. Casimir when she was transferred to the Mount Carmel Convent in the Harrisburg Diocese in 1908. She served as superior and principal in Pittsburgh, PA, where she opened the new mission of St. Mary of the Mount School in 1910, and in a similar capacity at the following schools: St. Rita School in Dundalk, MD; St. John the Evangelist School in Bellefonte, PA; and St. Alphonsus School in New York City, NY.

Sister Berchmans also served as mistress of novices for the IHM Congregation in Scranton, from 1919 to 1925.

She was preceded in death by four sisters, Katherine, Alice, Margaret Genevieve, and Sister Mary Nicholas, IHM, and a brother, William (toddler).

She is survived by a sister, Anna Marie Gallagher, and a brother, Thomas B., both of White Haven, PA.

The funeral will be Friday, December 19 at St. Catherine’s Church in Moscow, PA, followed by interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow. Friends may call on Thursday at St. Agnes Convent in Elmhurst, PA.