Sister M. Ethelreda McNamara, IHM

Sister M. Ethelreda McNamara, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, February 7, 1966, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, PA.

She was born on September 11, 1914 in La Salette, Canada, and given the name Mary Celestine. She was the daughter of the late John B. and Margaret Farrell McNamara. She was one of a small number of candidates that came to us from Ontario, Canada. She entered the IHM Congregation on July 2, 1908, received the religious habit on April 13, 1909, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1911.

Sister Ethelreda served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Joseph Elementary School in Williamsport, PA, from 1911 to 1929; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Pittston, PA, from 1929 to 1930; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Bellefonte, PA, from 1930 to 1932; Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse, NY, from 1932 to 1939; Holy Angels Elementary School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1944 to 1950; St. Joseph Elementary School in Danville, PA, from 1950 to 1951; St. Mary Elementary School in Manhasset, NY, from 1951 to 1957; Christ the King Elementary School in Scranton, PA; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Scranton, PA; and St. Rose Elementary School in Carbondale, PA.

Sister served as principal and superior at St. Mary Elementary School in Hollidaysburg, from 1939 to 1940, and St. Patrick Elementary School in Spangler, PA, from 1940 to 1944.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Ambrose Emmett, Edwin Leo, and Francis Amadeus; and two sisters, Anna Loretta McNamara, and Beatrice Margaret McNamara.

She is survived by two sisters Sister M. Cosmas McNamara, IHM, of Scranton, PA, and Teresa Agnes Turner of Astrander, Canada; two brothers, Jerome of Brantford, Canada, and Gerald J. of Niagra Falls, Canada; nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Wednesday, February 9, at 9:30 a.m. with mass at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA. Interment will follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call at the Marian Convent Tuesday afternoon or evening.

Archival Remembrance:

Sister M. Ethelreda McNamara was one of a small number of candidates from Ontario, Canada. She was a generous soul who gave of herself without counting the cost. In her first mission, St. Joseph’s in Williamsport, where she passed eighteen years of her religious life, she taught every grade from first to eighth. Here she displayed those rare qualities so necessary in a good teacher: patience, firmness tempered by mildness, exactitude, and a sense of humor. After leaving Williamsport, her rich experience was employed in forming the minds of upper-grade pupils in our schools in Bellefonte, Syracuse, Hollidaysburg, Spangler, Pittsburgh, Manhasset, and at Christ the King in Scranton. In her last mission, St. Rose School in Carbondale, a fall made it imperative that she go to our St. Joseph’s Hospital. Her condition did not seem too serious at first and she responded very well to the kind, good care and ministrations of our devoted Sisters, doctors, and nurses there. A change occurred about a month or so after her hospitalization, and she did not have the strength to withstand it. She sank rapidly and death came early in the morning of February 7. Sister Ethelreda was a model religious and a hardworking dedicated teacher. May God who is no outdone in generosity soon reward the magnanimous soul of Sister Ethelreda with eternal rest.