Sister M. Sebastian Murphy, IHM

Sister M. Sebastian Murphy, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, May 29, 1938, at St. Joseph’s Children’s and Maternity Hospital in Scranton, PA.

She was born on December 19, 1857 in Cherry Ridge, PA, and given the name Elizabeth. She was the daughter of the late Thomas and Margaret Cassin Murphy. She entered the IHM Congregation on January 27, 1879, received the religious habit on May 13, 1879, and made profession of her vows on April 19, 1881.

Sister Sebastian enjoyed her years of teaching math at the following schools: St. Patrick School in Scranton, PA; St. John the Evangelist School in Pittston, PA; St. Bernard School in Hastings, PA; St. Alphonsus Academy in Tillamook, OR; and St. Lawrence High School in Portland, OR. She also served as bursar at St. Patrick School in Olyphant, PA

Sister served as acting principal at the following schools: Holy Rosary School in Scranton, PA; St. Lawrence High School in Portland, OR; St. Cecilia Academy in Scranton, PA; and St. Joseph School in Williamsport, PA.

When St. Mary’s Home for Girls in Cresson, PA, was established in August of 1917, Sister was assigned as the first superior and she served in that capacity from 1917 to 1929. She also served as superior at St. Agnes Place in Elmhurst, PA, which was a home for our aged and ill sisters, from 1933 to 1934.

From 1934 until the time of her death, Sister Sebastian was in prayer minister at St. Agnes Place.

She is survived by two sisters, Mary Hart of Denver, CO, and Margaret Chase of Omaha, NE.

The funeral will be Wednesday, June 1, at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel at St. Joseph’s Children’s and Maternity Hospital in Scranton, PA. Interment will follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.