Sister M. Nazarene Smith, IHM
February 17, 1893 – January 26, 1972
Sister M. Nazarene Smith, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died on January 26, 1972 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, Pennsylvania.
She was born on February 17, 1893 in Spokane, WA; and given the name Mary Agnes. She was the daughter of the late James and Catherine (Kate) Purcell Smith, and the step-daughter of the late Helen Carmody Smith. After graduating in 1911 from the IHM Academy in Coeur d’ Alene, ID, she entered the IHM Congregation on January 16, 1910. She received the religious habit on August 2, 1911, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1913.
Sister Nazarene served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Joseph in Williamsport, from 1913 to 1915; Most Holy Rosary in Syracuse, NY, from 1915 to 1916; St. John in Scranton, from 1916 to 1917; Marywood Seminary in Scranton, from 1917 to 1918; IHM Academy in Coeur d’ Alene, ID, from 1918 to 1929, 1932 to 1937, and 1941 to 1942; St. Lawrence in Portland, OR, from 1929 to 1931; St. Paul in Scranton, from 1929 to 1931; St. Rose in Carbondale, from 1937 to 1938; and St. Paul in Scranton, from 1938 to 1941.
She served as principal at St. Lawrence Parish School in Portland, OR, from 1929 to 1931.
At Marywood College in Scranton, Sister served as professor of history, from 1942 to 1969, as well as Chairman of the History/Social Studies Department; and instructor of adult education, from 1969 to 1972.
Sister Nazarene served at Marywood College in Scranton, as a professor of history, from 1942 to 1969; and instructor of an adult education class at from 1969 until 1972.
She is predeceased by an infant sister; a brother; Laurence James, and an uncle, Reverend Thomas J. Purcell.
She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Rita McCullah of Woodstock, MI; and Mrs. Helen Kung of Palos Verde, CA; a brother, Daniel Clayton Smith of Washington; nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be on Saturday, January 29 at 9:30 am at the Marywood Novitiate Chapel at Marywood College. Interment will follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, Pennsylvania.
Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.
“Sister M. Nazarene Smith, IHM, a respected member of the Marywood faculty for over thirty years passed away following a brief illness on January 26, 1972.
Sister was born in Spokane, Washington, daughter of the late James and Catherine Smith, and entered the congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, January 16, 1910. She received her habit August 2, 1911 and made her professional vows August 2, 1913.
Sister Nazarene taught at St. Joseph’s School, Williamsport, Pennsylvania; Most Holy Rosary High School, Syracuse, New York; Academy of the I.H.M., Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho; St. Rose High School, Carbondale, Pennsylvania; and Holy Rosary High School, St. John’s Hight School, St. Paul’s School and Marywood Seminary, Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Sister studied for her undergraduate degree at Lock Haven and Marywood College. She received her M.A. from Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington in 1931. Further studies included work at the University of Idaho, Catholic University of America, and St. Louis University.
Appointed Professor of History and Social Studies at Marywood College in 1942, Sister served until 1969 as Chairman of the Department. During this period she was Moderator of the International Relations Club (1942-1968), and co-sponsor of the Family Life Institute – for which Marywood received the National Honor in 1960 (one of three of the nation’s 265 Catholic colleges to receive the award). Sister was also the leading force behind the establishment of a Marywood chapter of the National History Honor Society – Phi Alpha Theth – which, when founded at Marywood in 1965, was the first in Northeastern Pennsylvania. More recently, she encouraged the development of Pi Gamma Mio, National Social Science Honor Society at Marywood. Sister Nazarene retired from teaching at Marywood College in 1969, but continued until shortly before her death to teach an adult education class sponsored under a federal education grant.
In conjunction with her work at Marywood, Sister Nazarene was involved in many professional associations and activities, such as: the Catholic Association of International Peace – C.A.I.P.- holding the office of Vice-President in 1946; the American Catholic Sociological Association; American Historical Association; Pennsylvania Curriculum Committee, Tri-Community Board (1964-1967); and I.H.M. School Board (1964-1967). Sister traveled widely throughout this country and Canada, being particularly interested in the western United States and the culture and forklore of the American Indian.
Sister Nazarene is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Rita McCullah, Woodstock, Illinois, and Mrs. Helen Kung, Palos Verdes, Peninsula, California, a brother, Daniel, Tacoma Washington, and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was held at the the Marywood Novitiate Chapel at Marywood College, on Saturday, January 29, at 9:30 A.M. Interment was in the St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow, Pennsylvania.”
published in the Scranton Times newspaper, January 27, 1972
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Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired Sisters of IHM. Donate online today, or send your donation c/o the Sisters of IHM Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.