Sister Mary Luke Smith, IHM

Sister Mary Luke Smith, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Wednesday, February 25, 1959, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, PA.

She was born on September 19, 1905, in Buffalo, NY, and given the name Clara. She was the daughter of the late William G. and Jessie Bell Smith. She entered the IHM Congregation on April 2, 1925, received the religious habit on August 15, 1925, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1927.

Sister Mary Luke served as a teacher at the following schools: St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Pittston, PA, in 1927; St. John Elementary School in Susquehanna, PA, in 1928; St. Ann Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1928 to 1929; St. Patrick Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1929 to 1930; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1930 to 1932; St. Cecilia Elementary School in Exeter, PA, from 1932 to 1936; Mother of Mercy Elementary School in Washington, NC, from 1936 to 1937; St. Joseph Elementary School in New Bern, NC, from 1937 to 1955; and St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1955 to 1957.

From 1957 until the time of her death, Sister Mary Luke was a prayer minister at the Marian Convent in Scranton.

She was preceded in death by a brother, William Robert.

She is survived by four sisters, Beatrice Lauer and Rose Gigliola, both of Eggertsville, NY; Margaret Shean of Buffalo, NY; and Lillian Emerson of West Seneca, NY; nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Saturday, February 28, at 9:30 a.m. at the Marian Convent. Interment will be at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA. Friends may call Friday at the Marian Convent.

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Archival Remembrance:

Sister Mary Luke died on February twenty-fifth, after thirty-two years of devoted generous service in her apostolate of teaching. Sister entered from Buffalo, New York, and for nine years taught in schools of the Diocese of Scranton. In 1936, she was assigned to Mother of Mercy School, Washington, North Carolina, and the following year was transferred to St. Joseph’s School, New Bern. For nineteen years, she valiantly strove to increase the “colored harvest” in North Carolina. Besides, she zealously and whole-heartedly devoted herself to the children at the Lejeune Marine Base in that state. In her efforts to instruct and to convert in her difficult field, she rose above ill health and its accompanying weakness. She won the esteem of all for her example of devotion to duty in spite of grave sickness. Several months of severe illness prepared her for God’s summons. God rest her soul and grant her His eternal reward.