Sister M. Natalie Lavan, IHM

Sister M. Natalie Lavan, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, May 19, 1958, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.

She was born on October 13, 1879 in Pittston, PA, and given the name Blanche. She was the daughter of the late Patrick and Bridget Grady Lavan. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1902, received the religious habit on December 27, 1902, and made profession of her vows on December 8, 1904.

Sister Natalie served as a teacher at Marywood Seminary in Scranton, PA; and St. Rosalia’s Elementary School in Pittsburgh, PA.

Sister served as principal at the following schools: Holy Rosary School in Scranton, PA; St. Leo School in Ashley, PA; and St. John the Evangelist School in Pittston, PA.

From 1951 until the time of her death, Sister Natalie was a prayer minister at the IHM Motherhouse, and the Marian Convent.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Timothy, Emmett Frank and George, and a sister, Anna Jennings.

She is survived by a nephew, George Jennings of Flushing, NY.

The funeral will be Wednesday, May 21 at 9:30 a.m. at the Marian Convent, Scranton, followed by interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call on Tuesday after 2:00 p.m. at the Marian Convent.

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Archival Remembrance:

Sister Natalie Lavan died after many weeks of illness. She was one of the first band of postulants who entered our Congregation at Mount St. Mary’s, now Marywood. The past seven years were spent in retirement at Marywood and later at the Marian Convent. She will be long remembered as a fine teacher whose strength of character could not suffer anything that was not true and proper. Hers was a strength of character, to whom sham was unpardonable. One by one, she suffered the loss of those who were dear to her by family ties and by the stronger ties of religions. Sister Natalie was a valiant religious, a model of regular observance and of perfect conformity to rule and custom. May God reward her abundantly, and may she draw many graces and blessings on our Congregation which she loved so well.

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“The first reception and profession held in the new mother house took place during the Christmas-tide. Three postulants. Miss Helen Smith as Sister M. Aloysius; Miss Mary McMahon as Sister M. Jamesina; and Miss Blanche Lavin (sic) as Sister M. Natalie received the holy habit. Two novices. Sister M. Nepomucene and Sister M. Redempta pronounced their holy vows. Twice a year since then the chapel of Mount Saint Mary’s has been the scene of a like ceremony with ever-increasing bands of postulants and novices. ”

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, p. 289