Sister M. Hilda Brown, IHM

Sister M. Hilda Brown, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, May 30, 1954 in New York City, NY, where she was superior and principal at St. Alphonsus School.

She was born on November 21, 1875 in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, and given the name Mary. She was the daughter of the late Thomas and Mary Dacey Brown. The family immigrated to the America, and settled in Scranton, PA. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 24, 1902, received the religious habit on July 2, 1903, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1905.

SIster Hilda served as a teacher at Laurel Hill Academy in Susquehanna, PA.

Sister served as superior and principal at the following schools: St. Joseph’s School in Spokane, WA; St. Peter’s School in Port Washington, NY; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Asbury Park, NJ.

She is survived by nieces and nephews.

A mass of requiem will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 2 at 9 a.m. in St. Alphonsus Church, New York City. The body will be transferred afterward to St. Agnes Place, Elmhurst, PA, from where the funeral will be held on Thursday, June 3 at 10 a.m. in St. Catherine’s Church, Moscow, PA. Interment will follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow.

The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary benefited from the efforts to bring young women from Ireland to Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Over the years a total of sixty-five young women became professed IHM religious. Their services were received as far west at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho at the IHM Academy and at St. Edward School, Twin Falls, Idaho. The southern missions witnessed their dedication in Washington, Raleigh, and Rocky Mount, North Carolina. It was remarked that black children in some southern schools were speaking with an Irish brogue! The Sisters from Ireland also served in many locations in Pennsylvania, such as Dushore, Lock Haven, Exeter, Altoona, Pittsburgh, St. Michael’s School in Hoban Heights, Cresson, Pittston, Scranton, and Williamsport. New York and Rhode Island missions also received their services.

Excerpted from The Story of the Native Irish Sisters Who Entered the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Scranton Pennsylvania by Sister M. Michel Keenan, IHM, 2006, p.18