Sister Margaret Loftus, IHM

Sister Margaret Loftus, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. Florent) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

Born on March 23, 1925, in Galeton, PA, Sister Margaret was the daughter of the late John and Florence Lewis Loftus. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1944, made temporary profession of her vows on August 2, 1946, and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1949.  Sister Margaret received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education/English from Marywood College, and a Master of Arts degree in French from Assumption College.

Sister Margaret served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Mary of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA, from 1946 to 1947; St. Ignatius Pre-School in Kingston, PA, from 1947 to 1950; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Bellefonte, PA, from 1950 to 1951; St. Mary Elementary School in Avoca, PA, from 1951 to 1957; Immaculate Conception High School in Lock Haven, PA, from 1957 to 1961; Kingston Central Catholic High School in Kingston, PA, from 1961 to 1967; Maria Regina High School in Uniondale, NY, from 1967 to 1970 and 1973 to 1976; St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, NY, from 1971 to 1973; Sacred Heart High School in Carbondale, PA, from 1976 to 1984; and St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington, DE, from 1984 to 1997.

Sister served as principal at St. Rosalia High School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1970 to 1971.

Sister Margaret also served as a film librarian in the Radiology Department at the Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale, PA, from 1997 to 2007.

From 2007 until the time of her death, Sister Margaret was a prayer minister at St. Joseph’s Convent in Carbondale and later at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, John J., Jr., and James, and four sisters, Mary Louise Young, Lois Ann Hughes, Genevieve Pompeo, and Irene Schrimp. Sister Margaret is survived by nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.  She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Thursday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 1510 University Avenue in Dunmore, PA. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Thursday, May 23, between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow Mass on Thursday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Prayer of Rememberance and Funeral Mass

Reflection

Given by Sister Katie Clauss, IHM Congregation President

As we celebrate Margaret’s life we recall her faithful and faith-filled “Yes” to God’s call. She brought her love for education and for the French language to the students she taught in the high schools where she served.  Her love for education continued during her first encore ministry as Film Librarian in the Radiology Department at Marian Community Hospital.

As I think about Margaret, I am reminded of a reality that we often experience during our lives.  We never know when a particular gift of ours might become essential to meeting a need we never thought would be on our horizon.  Such was true of Margaret as she entered into her second encore ministry as the translator of the prayer book of our foundress Mother Theresa Maxis. All of the prayers in Theresa’s book were handwritten and many were in French. Margaret provided our key to unlocking the treasure of Theresa’s prayer. Her gift of freeing Theresa Maxis’ voice through her prayer will continue to bless us.

I had the privilege of working with Margaret during the beginning of the translation process. The sessions were filled with a deep appreciation for Theresa as Margaret read the prayers in French and then carefully recited them in English.  As I typed the words she spoke, I could hear in her voice a sense of awe as Theresa’s words in French and English were spoken.  I sensed that Margaret felt a special closeness to Theresa as she entered into her intimate prayer of desire to be known and loved by God.  What a blessing Margaret gave us as she allowed us to hear Theresa’s voice expressing her deep love for God through her prayer.

Margaret’s gift of self is reflected in the first reading from Isaiah:  How  beautiful on the mountain are the feet of the messenger bringing good news.  Margaret’s legacy of 78 years of service as a messenger of God’s unconditional love will live on in the hearts of the students and the colleagues she served along the way.

Seventy-eight years ago, Margaret professed her vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.  She heard and answered God’s call. It is God, who loved her over her lifetime, who now calls her home.

As Sister Margaret’s Vow Card is placed in her hands, let us thank God for the gift of Margaret’s life and listen to the words of one of the prayers that Margaret translated in Theresa’s prayer book.  This may be a prayer that Margaret is praying for herself today.

My God, my Creator, last end and my all! I believe strongly that You are here present and I am in You, and You are in me; that Your eyes are set on me as though there is not another one in the world to whom You were giving your attention.

How true this is for Margaret today.