Sister M. Bernadetta Burns, IHM

Sister M. Bernadetta Burns, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Tuesday, September 22, 1942 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, PA.

She was born on March 14, 1898 in Scranton, PA, and given the name Catherine. She was the daughter of the late Martin and Margaret Walsh Burns. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1919, received the religious habit on December 27, 1919, and made profession of her vows on December 29, 1921.

Sister Bernadetta was an accomplished musician, and taught music at the following: St. Alphonsus School in New York City, NY; St. Paul Elementary School in Scranton, PA; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Pittston, PA; and St. Mary Elementary School in Avoca, PA.

She was preceded in death by a brother, John Joseph; and her maternal aunt, Sister Mary Francis of Assisium Walsh, R.G.S.

She is survived by four brothers, Frank Aloysius, Edgar Martin, George Edward, and Robert G., all of Scranton, PA; a sister, Mary V. Burns of Scranton, PA; nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral will be Thursday, September 24 at St. Catherine’s Church in Moscow, PA, with interment to follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow. Friends may call at St. Agnes Place in Elmhurst, PA, on Wednesday afternoon.

Archival Remembrance:

Sister Bernadetta, who was widely known throughout the Immaculate Heart of Mary Order as a musician and music teacher, was a native of North Scranton, and at the time she was stricken with her fatal illness was stationed at St. Mary’s Convent in Avoca. In her long and ntoable teaching career, she was stationed in at St. Alphonsus in New York and several schools in Pennsylvania. Sister Bernadetta passed away on September 22 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Carbondale, where she had been a medical patient for almost one month.