Sister Maria Concepta McGarry, IHM

Sister Maria Concepta McGarry, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, December 23, 1961, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, PA.

She was born on December 18, 1878 in Carbondale, PA, and given the name Mary. She was the daughter of the late Timothy and Mary A. McHale McGarry. She entered the IHM Congregation on July 1, 1904, received the religious habit on December 8, 1904, and made profession of her vows on December 27, 1906.

Sister Maria Concepta served as teacher at the following schools: St. Patrick School in Olyphant, PA, from 1910 to 1934, 1940 to 1949, and 1950 to 1957; St. Alphonsus School in New York City, NY, from 1937 to 1940; and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Asbury Park, NJ, from 1949 to 1950.

Sister also served as portress at St. Agnes Convent in Elmhurst, PA, from 1934 to 1937.

From 1957 until the time of her death, Sister Maria Concepta served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph and William.

She is survived by a sister, Sarah (Sadie) Ellis of New York City, NY.

The funeral will be Tuesday, December 26, at 9:30 a.m. at the Marian Convent, with Reverend Joseph Padden, of St. Patrick’s Church in Olyphant, celebrating. Interment will be at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow, PA.

Archival Remembrance:

Sister Maria Concepta was loved by all who knew her. God gave her a charming personality, and when He permitted her to suffer a great physical impairment, she responded so resignedly and so graciously that her natural disposition was enhanced by the added graces God granted her. All who were privileged to give her the little aids she required, vied with one another to give her service. As to herself, she was everybody’s servant, seeking out little ways to give assistance. Most of her convent life, she served as portress, and in that office she charmed and edified all callers, who learned to call her blessed. At the Marian Convent, she was a constant joy, spreading the sunshine of her holiness and her loving ways to all. In her last days when broken bones caused intense suffering, she bore it with patient endurance, insisting that “there must be no whining.” A beautiful character, sanctified by pain and seeming frustration, Sister Maria Concepta traveled her queenly way straight forward to God whom she loved so dearly.