Sister M. Josaire Brady, IHM

Sister M. Josaire Brady, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, August 5, 2024, at Regional Hospital in Scranton, PA.

Born on October 13, 1930, in Danville, PA, and given the name Jane, Sister Josaire was the daughter of the late Patrick and Catherine McClain Brady. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1950, made temporary profession of her vows on August 2, 1953, and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1956.  Sister Josaire received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Marywood College.

Sister Josaire served as a teacher in the following schools: St. Ambrose Elementary School in Bridgeport, CT, from 1953 to 1960; St. Rita Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1960 to 1965; St. Ann Elementary School in Nyack, NY, from 1965 to 1967; St. Mary Elementary School in Patton, PA, from 1967 to 1969; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School in Rocky Mount, NC, from 1969 to 1970; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Altoona, PA, from 1970 to 1975; St. Ephrem Elementary School in Brooklyn, NY, from 1975 to 1982; St. Mary Elementary School in Avoca, PA, from 1982 to 1984; and St. Paul Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1984 to 1994.

Sister also served as a library assistant at St. Paul Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1994 to 1996; receptionist at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA, from 1996 to 2006; and receptionist at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA, from 2006 to 2015.

From 2015 until the time of her death, Sister Josaire was a prayer minister at St. Joseph’s Center Convent and Our Lady of Peace Residence, both in Scranton.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph. Sister Josaire is survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Friday, August 9, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 1510 University Avenue in Dunmore, PA. Friends may call on Friday at Our Lady of Peace Residence for a prayer service at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow Mass on Friday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA

Funeral Mass: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/133869084

Reflection

Given by Sister Grace Surdovel, IHM Leadership Team Member

Our Sister Josaire, born Jane Brady in Danville, Pennsylvania, was the only daughter of Patrick and Catherine McClain Brady.  She and her brother Joseph grew up in a loving home and attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School; she continued on to the Slovak Girls Academy.  Josaire attended Marywood University, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education in 1959.  She entered the congregation on September 8, 1950, professing temporary vows on August 2, 1951 and final vows on August 2, 1953.  Some of her band mates are with us today to remember their sister and friend. Josaire ministered in schools in Connecticut, Maryland, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania before serving as a receptionist at both the Marian Convent and Our Lady of Peace Residence.

Although reserved in social settings, Josaire was the consummate educator and storyteller.  She loved teaching and working with young children.  Some of her favorite memories revolved around students she taught, schools where she ministered and the families whose lives she touched over her 43 years in the classroom and school library.  When you had the pleasure of sitting with Josaire, she would often share a story about her years of teaching and would usually have you laughing as she told her tales.  Josaire also loved Notre Dame football and sports in general.  During the college football season, as she was departing the dinner table here at OLP, she and Mary Ann Remus would say to one another, “see you at the game.”  This was a regular occurrence for Josaire and Mary Ann and no doubt, fellow Notre Dame fans who are with us today.

Other loves of Josaire’s were bingo and the Bloomsburg Fair.  Josaire would meet up with her brother, Joe, to spend the day together at the fair.  No doubt they made a stop at the Bingo tent!

In a blessing prayer entitled, In the Leaving, poet Jan Richardson offers a final blessing for those whom we have loved and lost.  I offer these words of blessing for our Sister Josaire and for all who grieve her loss.

In the leaving,
In the letting go,
Let there be this
To hold onto
At the last:

The enduring of love,
The persisting of hope,
The remembering of joy,

The offering of gratitude,
The receiving of grace,
The blessing of peace.

Josaire, may you experience the loving embrace of your God, your parents, brother, family and IHM sisters as you are welcomed into your heavenly home.  Know that our love goes with you on this final journey.     

Well done, good and faithful servant.