Sister M. Nazaretta Early, IHM

Sister M. Nazaretta Early, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, June 5, 1966, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.

She was born on May 31, 1883 in Scranton, PA, and given the name Mary. She was the daughter of the late Edward and Mary Wier Early. She entered the IHM Congregation on August 15, 1903, received the religious habit on August 2, 1904, and made profession of her vows on July 26, 1906.

Sister Nazaretta served as a music teacher at the following schools: St. Joseph Elementary School in Danville, PA, from 1903 to 1904; St. Patrick Elementary School in Olyphant, PA, from 1906 to 1908 and 1930 to 1934; St. Leo Elementary School in Ashley, PA, from 1908 to 1912; St. Patrick Elementary School in Spangler, PA,from 1912 to 1913; IHM Academy in Coeur d’Alene, ID, from 1913 to 1914; Holy Rosary Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1914 to 1916 and 1920 to 1921; St. Cecilia Academy in Scranton, PA, from 1916 to 1920; St. Cecilia Elementary School in Wyoming, from 1921 to 1923; Laurel Hill Academy in Susquehanna, from 1923 to 1924; St. Joseph Elementary School in Renovo, PA, from 1924 to 1925; St. Mary Elementary School in Patton, PA, from 1925 to 1928; and St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1928 to 1930. She served as a music and language teacher at the following schools: St. Joseph Elementary School in Williamsport, PA, from 1934 to 1935; and St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1935 to 1936.

Sister Nazaretta served as a teacher at the following schools: Holy Rosary Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1936 to 1938; St. Paul Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1938 to 1946; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Pittston, PA, from 1946 to 1948; St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1948 to 1959; and St. Agnes Elementary School in Little Washington, NC, from 1959 to 1963. She also served as a private music instructor at St. Michael’s Catechetical Center in Dingman’s Ferry, PA.

From 1963 until the time of her death, Sister Nazaretta served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent.

She is preceded in death by two brothers, Dr. Edward, Jr. and Thomas, and a sister, Nellie Reilly.

She is survived by two nephews, Reverend Joseph Earley, MM, stationed in Mexico, and Thomas Early of Scranton, PA; and two nieces, Mary Theresa Brady of Baltimore, MD, and Janet Reilly McPeak of Scranton, PA.

The funeral will be Wednesday, June 8 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 or evening.

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Archival Remembrance:

Sister Nazaretta Early, a quiet, refined Sister, was first a music teacher, but later felt she could do more for souls in the classroom. Her lady-like manner enriched her teaching so that her students learned more than the subject matter. And she thoroughly enjoyed her years of teaching both music and other subjects to the children in our mission schools.

“Saint Patrick’s School, Spangler, was opened September, 1912. Though not a Benedictine Parish, Saint Patrick’s is in the midst of the beautiful country that for years, has been sanctified by the presence of Benedictine Monks. The region is intensely Catholic and Saint Patrick’s Parochial School is flourishing. This mission was opened by the following Sisters: Sister M. Bernardine, superior. Sister M. Justina, Sister M. Nazaretta, Sister M. Uriel, and Sister M. Celsus. The formal opening took place September 12th. Mass was celebrated by the Right Reverend Eugene Garvey, who also preached on Christian education.”

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. 322