Sister M. Isidore Connor, IHM

Sister M. Isidore Connor, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Wednesday, May 17, 1933.

She was born on October 9, 1863 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, and given the name Margaret. She was the daughter of the late Patrick and Ann Lavelle Connor. She entered the IHM Congregation on July 15, 1884, received the religious habit on April 6, 1885, and made profession of her vows on December 21, 1886.

Sister Isidore enjoyed her years of teaching children in our IHM mission schools, including at St. Bernard School in Hastings, PA, where she also served as superior.

Interment is at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, Pennsylvania.

Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.

“Saint Bernard’s School, Hastings, was the second school offered to the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary by the Benedictine Fathers. Hastings is a prosperous mining town in Cambria County. It is not far from Patton, where the convent of Our Lady of Perpetual Help had been opened in 1914.

The people of Saint Bernard’s Parish had long wanted a parochial school. Father Marcellus, O.S.B., the venerable pastor of Saint Bernard’s, acceded to their wishes, and in August, 1915, both convent and school were in readiness for the Sisters. Both buildings were of brick, and fitted up with every modern convenience. On August 26, 1915, the Sisters appointed for the new mission house left the mother house at Mount Saint Mary’s. They were Sister M. Isidore, Superior, Sister M. Alexius, Sister M. Pauline, Sister M. Eustochium, and Sister Marie Therese. They were accompanied by Sister M. Ildephonsus, Sister-assistant. The Sisters arrived in Hastings at 8.50 p. m. the following day, and there a surprise awaited them. Five hundred men, women and children, practically the whole population of Hastings, had assembled at the station to await the arrival of the Sisters. The Sisters were the cynosure of all eyes as they alighted from the train. Out from the silent and admiring throng stepped a venerable old priest who introduced himself as
Father Marcellus. He gave them a most cordial welcome to Saint Bernard’s. They were then conducted to the automobiles, which the eager parishioners had placed at their disposal, and enjoyed an auto ride to the convent, three blocks distant. There another surprise awaited them. Sister M. Leon and Sister M. Nepomucene had come over from Patton to greet the travelers. They had supper prepared, and after a short recreation, the Sisters were glad to retire.

August 29th, the school opened with the celebration of Solemn High Mass, which was attended by the children and their parents.”

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, pgs. 426, 427