Sister Maria Benedict Russell, IHM

Sister Maria Benedict Russell, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, September 19, 1976, at the IHM Generalate in Scranton, PA.

She was born on December 15, 1910 in Pittston, PA, and given the name Emma Clara. She was the daughter of the late James and Clara Reiser Russell. She entered the IHM Congregation on August 14, 1926, received the religious habit on December 29, 1926, and professed her vows on January 2, 1929.

Sister Maria Benedict served as a teacher in the following schools: St. Joseph School in Danville, PA, in 1929; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School in Forest Hills, NY, from 1929 to 1943; St. Raymond School in Lynbrook, NY, from 1943 to 1946; St. Mary School in Manhasset, NY, from 1946 to 1949; St. Ephrem School in Brooklyn, NY, from 1949 to 1960; St. Paul School in Edgewood, RI, from 1960 to 1962; Most Holy Rosary School in Syracuse, NY, from 1962 to 1964; St. Anthony School in Portland, OR, from 1964 to 1968; and Our Lady of Mercy School in Forest Hills, NY, from 1968 to 1970.

From 1970 until the time of her death, Sister Maria Benedict served as a teacher at St. Rita Elementary School in Dundalk, MD.

She was preceded in death by an infant sister, Mary.

The funeral will be Tuesday, September 21, at 9:30 a.m. at the Marian Convent in Scranton, followed by interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.