Sister M. Hilarion Sullivan, IHM

Sister M. Hilarion Sullivan, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, March 28, 1957, at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Scranton, PA.

She was born on July 11, 1898, in Aliquippa, PA, and given the name Mary E. She was the daughter of the late Timothy and Bridget Mannion Sullivan. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1920, received the religious habit on August 2, 1920, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1922.

Sister Hilarion served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Thomas Commercial High School in Archbald, PA; St. Alphonsus High School in New York City, NY; St. Mary of the Mount School in Pittsburgh, PA; and St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA.

For more than ten years, she served as a case worker and member of the Board of Directors at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Scranton, PA.

She was on the Membership Committee of, and had conducted workshops for the Council of Religious of the National Conference of Catholic Charities.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Ellen B. Maunsion.

She is survived by three sisters, Sister M. St. Helen, IHM, principal of St. Peter’s Cathedral School in Scranton, PA, Winifred Bell of Pittsburgh, PA, and Mrs. Patrick Cuniff of Aliquippa, PA; five brothers, Daniel Joseph of Chicago, IL, Thomas P. of Pittsburgh, PA, Timothy P. Jr., John Francis and Vincent A., all of Coraopolis, PA; nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Saturday, March 30, with a solemn high mass in the chapel at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Scranton. Interment will be at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

---

Archival Remembrance:

Ten years ago, Sister M. Hilarion was told by her doctors that her work was over. Resignedly, she accepted her assignment to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, with the hopeful outlook that surely there would be some opportunity for her to serve God and save souls in the center with its many facets of service. As a capable commercial teacher, she was ready for the task of caring for the fiscal work of the hospital. Gradually, she became the counselor and adviser of the more that a hundred girls who in the course of the year come there for counsel and aid. Only the Divine Shepherd of souls holds the account of the never-told good which she accomplished. God had given her special gifts for this apostolate so dear to His Sacred Heart; and in our human way, we have every evidence that she performed this sensitive and challenging work as God wants it done. Little wonder that she faced death so serenely. She had been aware of God’s call for long years; now she was ready. Her beautiful soul laden wit the good works she had so silently and so capably performed, went forth humble but unafraid to God’s judgment seat. In the nurseries of Heaven, may she enjoy eternal rest.

---

Below is a short reflection from Sister’s funeral:

A beautiful maternal personality permeated Sister Hilarion’s manner as she fulfilled her religious life. As a teacher, she guarded her students and guided them with love into the right way. She walked the halls and pediatric rooms of the Foundling Home with a caring heart, soothing the crying children. “Anyone who welcomes a little child welcomes me.” She spent her last days and heart beats welcoming Jesus.