Sister M. Edith Cavanaugh, IHM

Sister M. Edith Cavanaugh, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, February 22, 1918 at St. John’s Home in Cresson, PA.

She was born on June 3, 1897 in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and given the name Florence M. She was the daughter of the John J. and Mary Reitz Cavanaugh. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1915, received the religious habit on July 6, 1915, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1917.

Sister Edith served in child care for resident children at St. John’s Home in Cresson, Pennsylvania.

She is survived by two sisters, Sister M. Rosemary, IHM, and Gertrude; and three brothers, George, Cyril and John.

The funeral will be Tuesday, February 26 at 10:00 a.m. in the Mount St. Mary’s Chapel, on the grounds of Marywood College, Scranton, followed by interment at the Marywood College Cemetery. Reverend William P. Kealey, D.D., will be the celebrant and Bishop M.J. Hoban will preach the sermon during the solemn high mass of requiem.

“Sister M. Edith Cavanaugh was called to her heavenly home on February 22nd. Sister M. Edith was only twenty years old at the time of her death. She was greatly missed at Saint John’s Orphanage (sic), where her generous soul and sunny disposition had endeared her to the Sisters and her little charges. Sister M. Edith was the sister of Sister M. Rosemary. ”

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. 452