Sister M. Rita McCormack, IHM

Sister M. Rita McCormack, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, June 24, 1957, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA

She was born on August 19, 1875 in Silver Lake, PA, and given the name Genevieve. She was the daughter of the late John and Bridget Hanagan McCormack. She entered the IHM Congregation on October 2, 1903, received the religious habit on December 31, 1903, and made profession of her vows on December 29, 1905.

Sister Rita served as a domestic at the following convents: Holy Rosary Convent in Scranton, PA; St. John the Evangelist Convent in Scranton, PA; and Holy Name of Mary Convent in Montrose, PA.

She was preceded in death by six brothers, John James Jr., Joseph C., Ambrose Paul, James A., William and Paul Leo; and four sisters, Mary Kelly, Ellen Sweeney, Rose Gahagan, and Anastasia (Daisy) Murphy. She was also preceded in death by two aunts in community, Sister M. Anastasia Hannigan, IHM, and Sister M. Perpetua McCormick, IHM.

She is survived by nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

The funeral will be Thursday, June 27, at 9:30 a.m. at the Marian Convent, with interment to follow St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA. Friends may call on Wednesday after 2:00 p.m. at the Marian Convent.

Archival Remembrance:

During the summer, God called Himself our devoted Sister M. Rita. She carried with her to God’s holy presence, many decades of consecrated service to God and to our Congregation. Besides her long and fruitful years of active service in the classrooms, God asked of Sister Rita the added gift of long and painful suffering. In imitation of our Blessed Mother, whose life of sorrow is the essence of her Immaculate Heart, our dear Sister edified all by her patience and resignation. Sickness is the true index of character, and the Marian Convent bears holy witness to the sterling spiritual qualities of those Sisters whose active lives of dedication to God’s service blend into the painful days of awaiting God’s summons. In imitation of our Blessed Mother, our revered Sister exemplify an untroubled supernatural joy, even as she suffers intense pain. God grant that Sister Rita has entered into eternity, and heard the diving words, “Well done…” For each of her we pray that God’s eternal peace and rest may be her reward.