Sister Mary Justine Finnegan, IHM

Sister Mary Justine Finnegan, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, November 11, 1893, in White Haven, PA.

She was born on April 25, 1868, in Carbondale, PA, and given the name Theresa. She was the daughter of Susan Fallon Finnegan, and the late Patrick Finnegan. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1887, received the religious habit on August 2, 1887, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1889.

Sister Mary Justine served as a teacher at St. Joseph Elementary School in Williamsport, PA, from 1889 to 1890, and St. Patrick Elementary School in White Haven, PA, from 1890 until the time of her death.

In addition to her mother, she is also survived by a brother, Dennis, and three sisters, Susanna Winn, Kate McAndrew, and Elizabeth Powderly, nieces and nephews, all of Carbondale, PA.

The funeral will be Tuesday, November 14 at St. Rose Church in Carbondale, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery in Carbondale, PA.

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“Sister Justine, who was Miss Theresa Finnegan before her entrance to the convent, was a young Sister of much promise and had been professed but a short time when her death occurred on November 11, 1893.”

Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, p. 271

A telegram was received this morning by Mrs. Thomas Winn, of Dundaff Street, announcing the death of her sister, Miss Theresa Finnegan, known as Sister Mary Justine, at the convent of the Order of the Immaculate Heart at White Haven. Sister Justine had been ill of typhoid fever since last Sunday and on Tuesday her mother Mrs. Susan Finnegan and brother Dennis went to see her and remained with her until the end came. Yesterday Mr. Thomas Winn went to White Haven. It was supposed she was improving until the announcement of her death at 11 o’clock this morning (Nov. 11) was received.

Sister Justine was about 25 years of age and her death will be mourned by a large circle of friends throughout the valley. … At the age of eighteen she entered the mother house of the order in this city and two years later finally renounced the world. She spent a year in Williamsport and then was sent ot White Haven where she taught in the parochial school. She possessed many talents that were used in the work of Christianity and merited the reward she will receive. She was a daughter of the late Patrick Finnegan, who died since she entered the convent. The other members of the family are Mrs. Thomas Winn, Mrs. William McAndrews, Mrs. T. V. Powderly, Jr., and Dennis Finnegan, all of this city. It is not known what arrangements have been made for the funeral, but interment will probably be made in this city.

The Evening Herald · Carbondale, Pennsylvania · Saturday, November 11, 1893 · Page 6