Sister Mary Ellen James, IHM

Sister Mary Ellen James, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. Cordia) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

Born on November 3, 1924, in Baltimore, MD, Sister Mary Ellen was the daughter of the late John A. and Ellen (Ella) Johnson James. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1947, made temporary profession of her vows on May 8, 1950, and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1953.  Sister Mary Ellen received a Bachelor of Science degree in science/English from St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg, MD, and a medical technology license from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

Sister Mary Ellen served as a teacher at the following schools: Marywood Seminary High School in Scranton, PA, from 1950 to 1951; St. Basil High School in Dushore, PA, from 1951 to 1954; and St. Leo High School in Ashley, PA, from 1954 to 1956.

Sister served as a medical technologist at the following institutions: St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, PA, from 1956 to 1971; Marian Convent in Scranton, PA, from 1971 to 1972, 1976 to 1983, and 1984 to 2006; Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, NY, from 1972 to 1976; and Saint Joseph’s Center in Scranton, PA, from 1983 to 1984.

Sister Mary Ellen also served on the support staff at the IHM Center in Scranton, PA, from 2006 to 2013.

From 2013 until the time of her death, Sister Mary Ellen was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Helen J. Emanuel. Sister Mary Ellen is survived by nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Friday, September 20 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 Friday, September 20, 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 Friday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Prayer of Remembrance and Funeral Mass