Sister Mary Hope Gibson, IHM

Sister Mary Hope Gibson, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, July 16, 1960, at Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

She was born on December 17, 1884 in Scranton, PA, and given the name Margaret. She was the daughter of the late John P. and Mary Hope Gibson. She entered the IHM Congregation on October 2, 1909, received the religious habit on December 29, 1909, and made profession of her vows on December 27, 1911.

Sister Mary Hope served as a teacher at the following schools: All Saints Elementary School in Masontown, PA; St. Alphonsus Elementary School in New York City, NY; Most Holy Rosary School in Syracuse, NY; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Pittston, PA; Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Elementary School in New York City, NY; St. Dominic School in Oyster Bay, NY; St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in Archbald, PA; and St. Leo Elementary School in Ashley, PA.

Sister served as principal at St. Alphonsus Elementary School in New York City, NY, from 1944 to 1947.

She was preceded in death by three sisters, Mary Hope, Loretta and Kathryn, two brothers, Reverend William J. and Arthur J., and an aunt, Sister M. Fides Gibson, IHM.

She is survived by several cousins, including Reverend Robert Gibson, stationed at St. Paul’s Church in Scranton, PA.

The funeral will be Tuesday, July 19 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Leo’s Church in Ashley, PA, followed by interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA. Friends may call on Tuesday at St. Leo’s Convent in Ashley.

Archival Remembrance:

Sister Mary Hope Gibson moved among us as a cultured gentle religious, to know whom was to love and admire. Her devout life was a shining example to all. The community virtues of humility and simplicity radiated from her and guided her in all her dealings with others. On the eve of the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, she was happy to show the new brown scapular she was to wear on the morrow; and our Blessed Mother’s promise to those who devoutly wear her scapular was, we pray, fulfilled in Sister Mary Hope. She was ready for God’s call. Her holy life and her generous service in the apostolate of teaching were her real preparation for God’s summons. May God be good to her who has left us such a splendid example of an admirable religious.