Sister Mary Wilfred Cain, IHM

Sister Mary Wilfred Cain, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, February 2, 1962 at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.

She was born on January 19, 1873 in Ridgebury, PA, and given the name Mary Ellen. She was the daughter of the late Dennis and Mary O’Connell Cain. She entered the IHM Congregation on November 1, 1901, received the religious habit on April 2, 1902, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1904.

Sister Mary Wilfred served as a housekeeper at the following: St. John the Evangelist Convent in Bellefonte, PA, from 1904 to 1910; St. Joseph’s Infant Home in Scranton, PA, from 1910 to 1915; St. Joseph’s Convent in Danville, PA, from 1919 to 1921; St. Joseph’s Convent in Williamsport, PA, from 1921 to 1924; St. Rosalia’s Convent in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1924 to 1925; St. Leo’s Convent in Ashley, PA, from 1925 to 1930; Holy Rosary Convent in Scranton, PA, from 1931 to 1933; St. Joseph’s Hospital Convent in Carbondale, PA, from 1933 to 1936; St. Joseph’s Shelter in Scranton, PA, from 1936 to 1938 and 1940 to 1949; St. John’s Convent in Susquehanna, PA, from 1938 to 1940; and Holy Name of Mary Convent in Montrose, PA in 1949. She also had charge of resident boys while serving at St. John’s Home in Cresson, PA, from 1915 to 1919.

She is preceded in death by three brothers, Patrick, Thomas and Joseph, and a sister, Mary Ann (Molly) Kane.

She is survived by two sisters, Josephine and Cecilia (Celia), both of Sayre, PA, nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Monday, February 5 at 9:30 a.m. in the Marian Convent Chapel, followed by interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA. Friends may call at the Marian Convent on Sunday.

Archival Remembrance:

Sister Mary Wilfred observed her eighty-ninth birthday shortly before she died. Throughout these long years she had maintained an active role in community work. She had labored hard and well in the beginnings of the Bellefonte mission, at St. Joseph’s Children’s and Maternity Hospital, St. John’s Home, Cresson, St. Joseph’s Shelter, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Carbondale, and in several of our mission houses. She was a quiet, reserved, prayerful Sister, little known except to her Sisters and her family. Her family were pioneers in the Ridgebury section of the Scranton Diocese, and were the generous friends of the early priests laboring in north central Pennsylvania. She had personally assisted them both in household and sacristy work before she entered religion. Her life at the Marian Convent was tranquil and serene; but a fall resulted in a broken hip, causing her extreme pain and suffering. The bone was perfectly set, but the weakened, tired heart could not support the burden of the painful mending period. God called her to himself to reward her for her long years of fidelity and service to Him.