Sister Maria Richard Wilkins, IHM

Sister Maria Richard Wilkins, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, April 4, 1998, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.

She was born on March 13, 1902, in Spangler, PA, and given the name Genevieve. She was the daughter of the late Richard and Elizabeth McMullen Wilkins. She entered the IHM Congregation on August 15, 1927, made temporary profession of her vows on December 29, 1929, and final profession of her vows in August 1933.

Sister Maria Richard served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Paul Elementary School in Cranston, RI, in 1930; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Pittston, PA, from 1930 to 1934; St. Bernard Elementary School in Hastings, PA, from 1934 to 1935; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Altoona, PA, from 1935 to 1936 and 1966 to 1970; Cathedral Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1936 to 1943; St. Dominic Elementary School in Oyster Bay, NY, from 1943 to 1945; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Asbury Park, NJ, from 1945 to 1954; St. Agnes Elementary School in Lock Haven, PA, from 1954 to 1958; St. Ambrose Elementary School in Bridgeport, CT, from 1958 to 1966; and St. Ephrem Elementary School in Brooklyn, NY, from 1970 to 1980.

Sister Maria Richard was a prayer minister at St. Ephrem’s Convent in Brooklyn, NY, from 1980 to 1987, and from 1987 until the time of her death at the Marian Convent.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Marywood College.

She was preceded in death by five sisters, Mary Greene, Nora Delozier, Anna Baker, Pearl McKeon and Nazaretta; three brothers, Francis, Joseph and John; and three nephews, Thomas Green, Francis Green, and Robert Baker.

She is survived by three nieces, Elizabeth Whalen of Spangler, PA, Imelda Green of Hastings, PA, and Patricia Schiazzano of Brooklyn, NY; and five nephews, Jerome Green of New Hampshire, Richard Green and John Green both of Warminster, PA, Richard Schiazzano and James Schiazzano, both of Brooklyn, NY.

The funeral will be Wednesay, April 8, at 10:30 a.m., with Mass at the Marian Convent. Interment will follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call on Tuesday after 2:00 p.m. at the Marian Convent.

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Archival Remembrance:

With great gentleness and a constant focus on a compassionate God, Sister Maria Richard ministered for nearly seven decades as an IHM sister. Her life brought light and love to thousands of children and their families as she strove to live as a sign of God’s presence.

Her ministry as an elementary school teacher started in 1930 at St. Paul, Cranston, RI. From there she served at schools located in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

She continued her service at St. Ephrem Convent in Brooklyn, NY, as a prayer minister from 1980 to 1987. In 1987, she moved to the Marian Convent where she was a prayer minister until her death.