Sister M. Devota Walsh, IHM

Sister M. Devota Walsh, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on August 4, 1963.

Daughter of the late Richard J. and Bridget F. Gilbride Walsh, she was born on July 16, 1892 in Scranton, Pennsylvania; and given the name Evelyn. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 24, 1921, received the religious habit on August 2, 1921, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1923. Prior to entering the community Evelyn served as a teacher in the Scranton School District, from 1912 to 1921; and at the International Correspondence School (ICS) in Scranton, from 1912 to 1921.

Sister Devota served as a teacher at the following schools: Marywood Seminary in Scranton, from 1921 to 1930; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Forest Hills, NY, from 1930 to 1935; St. Charles of Sugar Notch, from 1935 to 1940; St. Leo in Ashley, from 1940 to 1945; St. John the Evangelist in Scranton, from 1945 to 1953; St. Patrick in Scranton, from 1953 to 1954; St. John in Pittston, from 1954 to 1956; and St. Mary in Avoca, from 1956 to 1957.

From 1957 until the time of her death, she served as a prayer minister.

She is preceded in death by three brothers, Reverend James A.; Major Ambrose F.; and Richard V.

She is survived by four brothers, Michael J., of Scranton; Joseph, of Washington, DC; Norman J., of New Jersey; and Gerard R. of New York; three sisters, Mrs. Catherine Janssen, of Scranton; Mrs. Laura McLaughlin, of Philadelphia; and Mrs. Mary Toughey of Scranton; nieces and nephews.

Interment will follow the Mass of Christian burial at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.

Below is an archival reflection about our Sister M. Devota Walsh:

Sister M. Devota was an outstanding public school teacher before she entered our community. Frequently, she was assigned to give demonstration lessons at teacher institutes. This fine experience she brought to religion, where she taught with great efficiency. Her wide reading was a continuing enrichment of her spiritual and professional life. Ill-health was her almost constant companion; but she was meticulous to her devotion to her religious life, and was really heroic in her determination to teach notwithstanding her pain and weakness. In her last years at Saint Mary’s, Avoca, even the priests and people expressed their edification at the effort she made to attend daily Mass and received Holy Communion, despite her evident suffering. Always prayerful, she spent many hours in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, where she could unite pain and prayer. Suffering is one of the mysteries of our life, and to live and labor for God and neighbor in spite of suffering, demands great generosity of soul. This was the life of Sister M. Devota. May God grant her eternal rest.