Sister M. Justin Duffy, IHM

Sister M. Justin Duffy, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, July 21, 1957, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.

She was born on February 22, 1876 in Upper Lehigh, PA, and given the name Catherine. She was the daughter of the late Patrick and Catherine Branigan Duffy. She entered the IHM Congregation on December 8, 1893, received the religious habit on May 24, 1884, and made profession of her vows on July 2, 1896.

Sister Justin served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Cecilia Elementary School in Wyoming, PA; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Pittston, PA; IHM Academy in Coeur d’Alene, ID; and St. Joseph Elementary School in Danville, PA.

She was preceded in death by a brother, John, and a sister, Margaret Boyle.

She is surived by five sisters, Mrs. Patrick McLaughlin of Hazleton, PA, Mrs. Neal Gallagher of Audenried, PA, Mrs. Harry Sheldrawe of Washington, DC, Sally Glenn of Philadelphia, PA, and Mrs. J. X. McGeehan of Union City, NJ, and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Wednesday, July 24 at 9:30 a.m. at the Marian Convent in Scranton, followed by interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA. Friends may call at the Marian Convent on Tuesday afternoon after 2:00 p.m.

Archival Remembrance:

During the summer, God called Himself our devoted Sister M. Justin Duffy. She carried with her to God’s holy presence, many decades of consecrated service to God and to our Congregation. Besides their long and fruitful years of active service in the classrooms, God asked of each of these Sisters the added gift of long and painful suffering. In imitation of our Blessed Mother, whose life of sorrow is the essence of her Immaculate Heart, our dear Sister edified all by her patience and resignation. Sickness is the true index of character, and the Marian Convent bears holy witness to the sterling spiritual qualities of those Sisters whose active lives of dedication to God’s service blend into the painful days of awaiting God’s summons. In Imitation of our Blessed Mother, our revered Sister exemplify an untroubled supernatural joy, even as she suffers intense pain. God grant that Sister Justin has entered into eternity, and heard the diving words, “Well done…” For each of them we pray that God’s eternal peace and rest may be her reward.