Sister M. Mercille Schneider, IHM

Sister M. Mercille Schneider, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, June 3, 2024, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

Born on July 7, 1927, in Providence, RI, and given the name Elizabeth, Sister Mercille was the daughter of John Walter and Mary Madeline McWilliams Schneider. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 7, 1950, made temporary profession of her vows on August 2, 1953, and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1956.  Sister Mercille received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Marywood College, and a Master of Science degree in education from the University of Portland.

Sister Mercille served as a teacher at the following schools: St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1953 to 1957; St. Peter of Alcantara Elementary School in Port Washington, NY, from 1957 to 1968; St. Henry Elementary School in Gresham, OR, from 1968 to 1971; Sacred Heart of Mary Elementary School in Jermyn, PA, from 1971 to 1973; St. Ann Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1973 to 1974; Our Lady of Grace Elementary School in Greensboro, NC, from 1974 to 1977; St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1977 to 1979; and St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in Archbald, PA, from 1979 to 1984.

Sister served as a parish minister at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lumberton, NC, from 1984 to 1989, and during that time she also served in the IHM sponsored literacy program in Robeson County, NC.

Sister Mercille also served as director of the extended day program at St. John the Evangelist School in Silver Spring, MD, from 1990 to 1996; director of hospitality and activities at Our Lady of Grace Center in Manhasset, NY, from 1996 to 2004; and school office assistant at St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Silver Spring, MD, from 2004 to 2015.

From 2015 until the time of her death, Sister Mercille was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Walter, and three sisters, Ann Johnson, Margaret “Peg” Alsfeld, and Madeline Kalberer. Sister Mercille is survived by nieces and nephews, and by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Monday, June 10, 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 at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Monday, June 10, between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m.  Interment will be at a later date at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Cranston, Rhode Island.

Prayer of Remembrance and Funeral Mass

Reflection

Given by Sister Suzie Armbruster, IHM Leadership Team Member

Sister Mercille was born on July 7, 1927, and given the name Elizabeth Ann, affectionately known as Betty Ann. This year she will be spending her 97^th birthday reunited with her parents, John and Mary, her brother Walter, and sisters Ann, Peg and Madeline. Sister Mercille spent 71 years of her life as a professed Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and almost a full century of union with God as a disciple of Jesus through her baptism.

While we grieve the loss of her presence among us, we recall with fondness the gifts Sister Mercille brought to the world as a witness to her faith.

On the day of her profession, Sister signed a vow card, promising her fidelity to living poverty, chastity, and obedience. As we celebrate her life today, we acknowledge that she has fulfilled these vows with joy.

When we hear the name Mercille, we smile and remember one of the funniest sisters in our community. Mercille had a magic trunk of costumes and props for every occasion.

An IHM custom for those in the Southern missions was to gather at the beach to enjoy one last fun day in the sun before the beginning of a new school year. Besides spending time playing cards, sitting in the sun, and of course, feasting… the sisters would get creative and have their own Miss America pageant. Once they decided to draw words beginning with the prefix “mis.” With 20+ sisters, it was a serious task to think of so many such words. We drew a word, and secretly went to create a charade and costume to represent such word. We could only use items found in the cottages. After mass and dinner, it was time for charades. Mercille, true to form, donned a blue flowing caftan and came into the room, stumbled and stumbled again. After we all gasped thinking she had really tripped, we began to guess till we realized she had drawn the word “mishap.” Others had to act out the words misfortune, Mississippi, misread, and more.

It was an experience watching a football game with Mercille. Quietly she would slip out of the room and re-emerge as a football player complete with helmet and football or even funnier, as a cheerleader! All from her magic trunk.

While teaching first grade at St. Ann’s as a young sister, Mercille found herself in a very warm classroom and a very sleepy group of children. To wake them up and gain energy, she jumped up on a student’s desk to dance and continue teaching a phonics lesson. More often than not, you would hear laughter, squeals and giggles coming from her classroom no matter where she taught.

Mercille served as a parish minister in Lumberton NC. During her time in Lumberton, she established a small pantry for the poor, visited folks in prison and taught literacy. Upon leaving North Carolina, she joined the community at St. John the Evangelist in Silver Spring where she was the director of the afterschool program.

Mercille’s Rhode Island accent, along with the sparkle in her eyes and broad smile, will live on in our hearts and memories.