Sister Mary Barbara Farrell, IHM

Sister Mary Barbara Farrell, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, October 25, 1901, at St. Rose’s Convent in Carbondale, PA.

She was born on November 19, 1871 in Dushore, PA, and given the name Anne. She was the daughter of John H. and Elizabeth Harrington Farrell. She entered the IHM Congregation on March 25, 1891, received the religious habit on August 2, 1891, and made profession of her vows on April 3, 1893.

Sister Mary Barbara served as music teacher at the following schools: St. John the Evangelist School in Pittston, PA; Holy Rosary School in Scranton, PA; St. Patrick School in Olyphant, PA; and St. Rose School in Carbondale, PA.

She is survived by seven brothers, Francis, Jerome, Leonard, Martin, Theodore, Vincent and Arthur; two sisters, Mary Bridget Donahue and Ellen Donohue; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Monday, October 28 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church in Carbondale, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery in Carbondale, PA. Friends may call on Sunday at St. Rose’s Convent in Carbondale.

Archival Remembrance:

Sister Mary Barbara, had been in ill health for nearly two years with pulmonary trouble, but had been able to be about until a few days ago.

Before entering the community, she was one of the most highly regarded residents of her native town. She entered St. Rose’s novitiate as a postulant in April, 1891, and during the following August was invested by Rt. Rev. Bishop O’Hara in the holy habit of religion. She made her final vows in the same place in August, 1893. Sister Mary Barbara’s taste and talents were for music, and after her profession she taught music in many of the convents of the order, notably those in Pittston, Providence and Olyphant of the diocese. She was known as one of the most skillful musicians and successful teachers in the convents in which she taught. Her death will be a great loss to the schools of the sisters.

During the suffering she endured, Sister Mary Barbara displayed a most Christian like patience and fortitude. By nature of a kind and gentle disposition of her own trouble made her most sympathetic with others, and her sweetness of nature made her beloved by every sister in the diocese and the many children with whom she had as instructor of music.