Sister M. Davida Sullivan, IHM

Sister M. Davida Sullivan, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, July 4, 2002, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.

She was born on February 10, 1913, in Pittsburgh, PA, and given the name Dorothy. She was the daughter of the late John B. and Elizabeth Wunder Sulliva. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1938, made temporary profession of her vows on May 8, 1941, and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1944.

Sister Davida served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Patrick High School in Scranton, PA, from 1943 to 1945; South Catholic High School in Scranton, PA from 1957 to 1964; Marywood College in Scranton, PA from 1964 to 1968; Marygrove College in Detroit, MI, from 1968 to 1969; Pocono Central Catholic High School in Cresco, PA from 1971 to 1974; St. Clare Elementary School in Scranton, PA from 1976 to 1977; St. Dominic School in Oyster Bay, NY; and Maria Regina High School in Uniondale, NY. She also taught at schools located in New York City, NY; and Masontown and Pittsburgh, PA.

Sister also served as a support staff of the library at Marywood College in Scranton, PA, from 1974 to 1975; catechetical instructor at St. Rocco Parish in Pittston, PA, from 1975 to 1976; public relations at Saint Joseph’s Center in Scranton, PA, from 1979 to 1980; pastoral ministry at St. Ann’s Parish in Scranton, PA, from 1980 to 1988; and prayer minister and writer in Pittsburgh, PA.

From 1997 until the time of her death, she was a prayer minister at the Marian Convent.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and a Master of Science degree in religious studies, both from Marywood College, as well as a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed further studies at Western Reserve University, Oxford University and Indiana University.

She was a poet whose published works included the books, Sabbath and Wide to His Weather. Her poetry and essays had been published in several periodicals, including Thought.

She was preceded in death by five sisters, Marie Maloy, Eleanor Alton, Katharine Sullivan, Sister Monice Sullivan, IHM, and Sister Paulinus Sullivan, IHM; and three brothers, John, Robert and Reverend Edward P., SJ.

She is survived by a sister, Betty Jane Franz of Pittsburgh, PA; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Wednesday, July 10, at 10:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at the Marian Convent, followed by interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call on Tuesday after 2:00 p.m. at the Marian Convent.