Sister M. Maristella Walsh, IHM

Sister M. Maristella Walsh, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

She was born on November 8, 1925, in New York, NY, and given the name Constance Mary. She was the eaughter of the late Vincent P. and Agnes L. Quinn Walsh. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1944, made temporary profession of her vows on May 8, 1947, and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1950.

Sister Maristella served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore, MA,from 1947 to 1948 and 1980 to 1988; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Asbury Park, NJ, from 1948 to 1954; St. Dominic Elementary School in Oyster Bay, NY, from 1954 to 1956; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School in Forest Hills, NY, from 1956 to 1958; St. Ephrem Elementary School in Brooklyn, NY, from 1958 to 1960; St. Ann Elementary School in Devon, CT, from 1960 to 1969; St. Ambrose Elementary School in Bridgeport, CT, from 1969 to 1980; St. Stephen Elementary School in New York City from 1988 to 1990; and St. Ann Elementary School in New York City from 1990 to 2002.

From 2003 until the time of her death, Sister Maristella was a prayer minister at the IHM Spiritual Renewal Center in Cresco, PA, and Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Marywood College.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Vincent Jr.; and a sister, Alberta Ridley.

She is survived by a cousin, Connie McLaughlin of Melrose, MA; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral will be Saturday, July 14, at 9:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Interment will follow at St. Catherine Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Friday, July 13, between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

---

Reprinted from “In Memoriam” section of Journey, Winter 2007 issue

Our IHM charism is one of joyful, loving service. All those who knew Sister Maristella would agree that she was a living example of the IHM spirit.

Sister Maristella’s passion was teaching. From Connecticut to Maryland and finally to her beloved New York, Sister Maristella left her mark on her primary students. Her claim to fame was teaching Danny DeVito at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Later in life she again met her former pupil when he was filming a movie in Baltimore. He was excited to see his first grade teacher and surprised that she remembered him.

Living at the Spiritual Renewal Center in Cresco, Pennsylvania, gave Sister Maristella the opportunity to influence the young novices by her joyful spirit and her acceptance of her physical pain. She lived life to the fullest despite her painful and crippling illnesses. The only time anyone could tell she was in pain was if she didn’t want to go shopping.

“Everybody makes mistakes,” was Sister Maristella’s lasting lesson to her family and friends. Through her example, she taught us that it was a blessing and a grace to let go of hurt and anger.

For the last four months, Sister Maristella lived at Our Lady of Peace Residence. She was a welcome presence to household 2B and they were a faithful support in her dying days.

Sister Maristella, a sixty-year jubilarian, was welcomed into the loving arms of God on July 10, 2007, at the age of 81.

by Sisters Anne Mary Boslett, IHM and Kathleen Lunsmann, IHM