Sister Raymond Mary McIntyre, IHM

Sister Raymond Mary McIntyre, IHM, entered into eternal life on Monday, June 10, 2024, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

She was born on October 12, 1935, in Ashley, PA. Sister was the eighth child of the late Raymond J. and Margaret Oakes McIntyre, and was given the name Therese.  

Sister was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers: Reverend Raymond T., Francis, Edmund, Robert, and Thomas; and four sisters: Mary G., Eileen Beddall, Margie, and Gail Dymond.

Sister is survived by two sisters-in-law, Marie and Maureen McIntyre of Laureldale, PA, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, great-grandnephews and cousins, as well as the IHM Sisters.

She entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Congregation on September 7, 1953, made temporary profession in 1956, and final profession of vows in 1959.

Sister received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education from Marywood University.  She taught in schools in the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and New York. (St. Matthew Elementary School, Wilmington, DE, from 1956 to 1960; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School, Silver Spring, MD, from 1960 to 1964; Epiphany Elementary School in Sayre, PA, from 1964 to 1967; St. Mary Elementary School in Avoca, PA, from 1967 to 1970; Hollidaysburg Catholic School in Hollidaysburg, PA, from 1970 to 1976; St. Mary School in Goldsboro, NC, from 1976 to 1978; St. Peter of Alcantara Elementary School in Port Washington, NY, from 1978 to 1983; Monsignor McHugh Elementary School in Cresco, PA, from 1983 to 1994; and St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA, from 1994 to 1995).

After forty years of teaching, sister served as a nurse’s aide at the Marian Convent and at Our Lady of Peace Residence.  Later she served as a volunteer at Our Lady of Peace Residence.

 The funeral will be Tuesday, June 18, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Tuesday, June 18, 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 Tuesday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Prayer of Rememberance and Funeral Mass

Reflection

Given by Sister Anne Mary Boslett, IHM

Sister Raymond Mary was born in Ashley, PA. She was one of ten children, five boys and five girls. The third from the top was a priest, Father Ray; the third from the bottom was a religious sister, Sister Raymond Mary. Her parents named her Theresa. The McIntyres lived on Manhattan Street, the same street where St. Leo’s Church was located, so all they had to do was walk a few steps to get to the church. When Theresa graduated from high school, she entered the convent and became Sister Raymond Mary, Raymond being a popular name in the McIntyre family. Since she entered in 1953, she was received in 1954, the Holy Year. That year all the postulants took the name “Mary” after their name rather than before their name, so she became known as a member of the “Mary” band.

In her early years as a sister, Sister Raymond Mary was not known for being prompt. I would say to her, “Ray, that paper is due today.” Her answer, “Well the day isn’t over yet,” and she would have the paper in at the last minute.

One year I got a Christmas card from Port Washington, I thought “I don’t know anybody in Port Washington.”  When I opened the card, it was from Sister Raymond Mary. She had been missioned in Port Washington the year before when she wrote her Christmas cards. She mailed them the following year.

Sister Raymond Mary had many interests, she enjoyed playing Scrabble, and she enjoyed playing cards and she liked putting puzzles together.  Often, she would laminate the puzzle, then frame it and hang it on the wall. She made a lot of things out of yarn; many she gave as gifts. She also made bookmarks, which she gave to her friends and relatives. One thing Sister did not do at the last minute, was write her prayer service and obituary. A few years ago, she told me that she had her prayer service and obituary written.  Needless to say, I was very surprised.

Sister Raymond Mary was no stranger to suffering. More than once, I visited her in the hospital, and I thought she would never come out. Anyone who saw Sister Raymond Mary right before she died knows how much she suffered. Now she has no more suffering, only the peace of Christ.

Thank you, Sister, for your friendship all these years. May you rest in peace.