Sister M. Florentine Sweeney, IHM

Sister M. Florentine Sweeney, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, January 10, 1960, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, PA.

She was born on March 12, 1896, in Scranton, PA, and given the name Theresa. She was the daughter of the late Michael G. and Catherine Polt Sweeney. She entered the IHM Congregation on March 25, 1919, received the religious habit on August 2, 1919, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1921.

Sister Florentine served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Mary-John School in Cresson, PA; Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Elementary School in New York, NY; All Saints Elementary School in Masontown, PA; St. Joseph Elementary School in Renovo, PA; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Pittston, PA; St. Cecilia Elementary School in Exeter, PA; and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Asbury Park, NJ.

Sister also served as a domestic at the following: St. Mary’s Home in Cresson, PA, from 1921 to 1925; St. Michael’s Convent in Whites Ferry, PA, from 1925 to 1927; and St. Rosalia’s Convent in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1927 to 1931.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert, Edgar and Michael.

She is survived by two brothers, Cyril of Scranton, PA, and Charles of Long Island, NY; a sister, Catherine Deck of Cheverly, MD; and nieces and nephew, including, Reverend Joseph Sweeney, SJ, of Innsbruck, Austria.

The funeral will be Tuesday, January 12, at 9:30 a.m. at the Marian Convent in Scranton, with interment to follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA. Friends may call on Monday afternoon or evening at the Marian Convent.

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Archival Remembrance:

Deep sincere gratitude prompted many of our Sisters to express their debt to our dear Sister M. Florentine for her countless deeds of kindness to them. She had always regarded herself as strong and healthy; she tried hard to spend herself in service to others. Many a Sister’s burdens she lightened, always taking on herself the hardest and heaviest tasks. Even in her illness, she labored with her hands as she sewed and knitted for the Marian Convent Gift Shop and for the Autumn Fair. Those who needed her help found in her a generous and gracious support. Cheerfulness and patience were always evident in her hard day of sickness. She uttered no complaints. She fully accepted God’s holy will, and constantly expressed her gratitude for the kind service extended to her. We are all drawn closer to God by the sterling example of her humility and resignation. May God grant her eternal rest.

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“Sister Mary Florentine, Dies

Sister M. Florentine, Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died Sunday at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Carbondale, after a long illness.

A daughter of the late Michael and Catherine Polt Sweeney, this city, she entered the novitiate at Marywood in March, 1919, and was admitted to profession in August, 1921. She served her community as a teacher at Sacred Hearts School, New York City; St. Joseph’s, Renova (sic); St. John’s, Pittston; St. Cecilia’s, Exeter; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Asbury Park, N.J.

Surviving are two brothers, Cyril Sweeney, this city, and Charles, Huntington, Long Island, N.Y.; a sister, Mrs. John C. Deck, Jr., Cheverly, Md., and several nieces and nephews, among them the Rev. Joseph Sweeney, SJ, Innsbruck, Austria.

The body was taken to the Marian Convent. The funeral will be held Tuesday with mass at 9:30 a.m. at the chapel of the convent. Interment, St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow. Arrangements, Cusick’s Funeral Service.”

The Scranton Tribune, Scranton, Pennsylvania, published on Monday, January 11, 1960, pg. 3