Sister M. Christine McGovern, IHM
December 23, 1862 – October 19, 1917
Sister M. Christine McGovern, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, October 19, 1917, at Mary Keller Memorial Hospital in Scranton, PA.
She was born on December 23, 1862 in Scranton, PA, and given the name Catherine. She was the daughter of the late John and Bridget Cullen McGovern. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1888, received the religious habit on July 12, 1888, and made profession of her vows on July 20, 1890.
Sister Christine was a teacher at the following schools: St. John the Evangelist School in Pittston, PA; St. Rose School in Carbondale, PA; St. Patrick School in Olyphant, PA; and St. Cecilia Academy in Scranton, PA.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas.
She is survived by a sister, Ellen B. Moran of Scranton, PA; a niece, Veronica (Vera) McGovern, and a nephew, Edward John Moran.
The funeral will be Monday, October 22, at 10:00 a.m. with a solemn high Mass, to be celebrated by Bishop Hoban, at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Scranton. Interment will follow at the Marywood College Cemetery, on the grounds of Marywood College, Scranton, PA.
“The death of Sister M. Christine McGovern occurred the following month, October 19, 1917. Sister M. Christine will be remembered by those with whom she lived, as a lovable, tolerant religious, whose life was filled with the peace which ever abides in the kind heart.”
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.454
“Sister M. Christine, of the order of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, passed away at Mary Keller Hospital this morning after an illness of two months. Before entering the convent, thirty years ago, she was Miss Catherine McGovern, of North Scranton.
During thirty years as a religieuse, she had been stationed at Pittston, Carbondale, Olyphant, and St. Cecilia’s Academy, the later place up to the time of her illness. Many of the valley’s professional and business men received their early education from her.
She was a sister of Mrs. John E. Moran, of North Scranton, and an aunt of Miss Vera McGovern, a teacher in the Plains High School, and E.J. Moran, of the Traders bank.”
The Scranton Times · Scranton, Pennsylvania · Friday, October 19, 1917 · Page 5
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