Sister M. Cecilia McAndrew, IHM

Sister M. Cecilia McAndrew, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Wednesday, September 6, 1916, at St. John’s Convent in Pittston, PA.

She was born on August 18, 1870 in Archbald, PA, and given the name Mary. She was the daughter of the late Peter and Bridget Barrett McAndrew. She entered the IHM Conregation on December 8, 1890, received the religious habit on August 2, 1891, and made profession of her vows on April 3, 1893.

Sister Cecilia served as a music teacher at the following schools: St. John the Evangelist School in Pittston, PA; Holy Rosary School in Scranton, PA; St. Cecilia’s Academy in Scranton, PA; St. Basil School in Dushore, PA; St. John the Evangelist School in Scranton, PA; Laurel Hill Academy in Susquehanna, PA; St. Patrick School in Scranton, PA; St. Patrick School in Olyphant, PA; St. Rosalia School in Pittsburgh, PA; and St. Alphonsus School in New York City, NY.

She was preceded in death by eight brothers, Patrick, Edward, Paul, Thomas, James, Peter, Matthew and John.

She is survived by a sister, Ann McAndrew of Carbondale, PA.

The funeral will be Friday, September 8 at 9:30 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church in Pittston, PA. Interment will follow at St. John the Evangelist Cemetery in Pittston.

Archival Remembrance:

Two years ago, Sister Cecilia was sent to St. Alphonsus School. Her health failing, she was recalled to the IHM Motherhouse, where after a period of rest, she was sent to St. John’s Convent, Pittston, where death came quite unexpectedly.

Sister Cecilia is sincerely mourned. Her bright, cheerful disposition endeared her to her Sisters in religion, as well as to the numerous pupils who during her long career came under her influence. She loved her work and knew how to inspire others with a genuine love for all that is beautiful and inspiring in the art of music. She had the happy faculty of making each pupil feel that she was the object of Sister’s special care, as indeed each one knew herself to be.

from an obituary published in The Scranton Times · Scranton, Pennsylvania · Friday, September 08, 1916 · Page 4

“Sister M. Cecilia McAndrew died at Saint John’s, Pittston, and was buried in Saint John’s cemetery, the first Sister to be interred in Saint John’s since the death of Sister M. Bridget Stokes, who died there in 1871. Sister Cecilia, who had just recovered from a serious illness, was about to begin the work of the year, but found that her optimistic spirit had belied her strength. When told there was no hope, she cheerfully resigned herself to God’s holy will.”

Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, p. 453