Sister Rose Marie Mozzachio, IHM

Sister Rose Marie Mozzachio, IHM, (formerly known as Sister Mary Louise) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

She was born on April 28, 1941, in Philadelphia, PA, and given the name Rose Marie Rita. She was the daughter of the late Alfred Frederick and Louise DeNezio Mozzachio. She entered the Sisters of Christian Charity Congregation on October 11, 1959, made her temporary profession of vows on August 21, 1962, and her final profession of vows on August 15, 1968. She joined the IHM Congregation in Scranton, PA, on June 20, 1976, and was incorporated May 25, 1978. Sister Rose Marie received an Associate of Arts degree in liberal arts from Assumption College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and German from Seton Hall University, and a Master of Arts degree in administration/supervision of grades K-12 from Kean College.

As a Sister of Christian Charity, Sister Rose Marie served as a teacher in the following schools: St. Michael Elementary School in Elizabeth, NJ, from 1962 to 1964; St. Patrick Elementary School in Chatham, NJ, from 1964 to 1970; and Reading Central Catholic High School in Reading, PA, from 1974 to 1976. She served as principal at the following schools: St. Paul Elementary School in Reading, PA, from 1970 to 1972; and St. Mary of the Assumption Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1972 to 1974.

As a Sister of IHM, Sister Rose Marie served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Paul Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1977 to 1981; Seton Catholic High School in Pittston, PA, from 2006 to 2007; and Holy Cross High School in Dunmore, PA, from 2008 to 2012.

Sister served as principal at the following IHM schools: St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in Archbald, PA, from 1981 to 1984; Seton Catholic High School in Pittston, PA, from 1984 to 1986; Notre Dame High School in East Stroudsburg, PA, from 1986 to 1990; and Monsignor McHugh Elementary School in Cresco, PA, from 1994 to 1998. She was the assistant principal at St. Matthew Elementary School in Wilmington, DE, from 1990 to 1994.

Sister Rose Marie also served as director of vocations and affiliates for the IHM Congregation from 1998 to 2001; director of formation for the IHM Congregation from 2001 to 2006; coordinator of faith formation for Blessed Sacrament/Saint Mary’s Parish Community in Pittston, PA, from 2007 to 2008; registrar/receptionist at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore, PA, from 2012 to 2014; and director of the Educational Enrichment Institute at the IHM Center in Scranton, PA, from 2014 to 2022.

From 2023 until the time of her death, Sister Rose Marie was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She is preceded in death by a brother, Nicholas. She is survived a brother, John of Hillsborough, NC, a sister, Connie Giannobile of Voorhees, NJ, and nieces, and nephews. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Monday, June 12, 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 Monday, June 12, between 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow Mass on Monday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Prayer of Remembrance and Funeral Mass 

Eulogy

Reflection given by Sister Gail Cabral, IHM

For me, Sister Rose Marie Mozzachio will always be the woman of a listening heart and a dancing spirit. Rose Marie was a great sister to Connie and her brothers, a wonderful aunt to nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and even great grands. She was a wonderful community member and friend. She brought to each relationship, indeed to each encounter, interest, warmth, and loving attention. People were quickly charmed by her sense of humor.  Last week when she was finding it difficult to talk, a hospice worker who had never met her came into the room and looked questioningly at both of us as she asked for Sister Rose Marie. Rose, with little breath to talk, pointed a finger in my direction! Luckily, my reaction quickly let the nurse know I was not the patient.

Rose was a great sister and aunt. She was to her family, as she was to friends, kind, supportive and immensely interested. She gave advice infrequently but when she did, it was with wisdom, honesty, and respect.

The message on the cover of the Mass booklet “I hope you dance” was Rose’s choice. As a matter of fact, Sister Eileen Coleman and I had explicit directions about the booklet cover. Rose had used a similar theme for her 50^th jubilee celebration. She loved to dance! As a teenager, every day after school found her at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, with a sweater over her Catholic school uniform, and her skirt rolled up. She moved to the music. When faced with a choice between sitting it out, or dancing, Rose always chose to dance.

She always chose to learn, to explore, to engage. Whether it was new science, Reiki treatments, or, Eastern spirituality, Rose loved to learn more about the universe, and Life itself! She danced to the tempo needed, in the variety of ministries and life experiences to which she was called. She was a teacher, an administrator, a vocation/formation leader, a parish worker. Her last educational ministry was coordinating a tutoring center at the IHM Center. To each ministry, Rose brought enthusiasm and life.

Rose was a great teacher; she often taught French and religion. An elective course she taught at Holy Cross High School, Awakening to Prayer, was frequently over-subscribed and had a waiting list. Some students wanted to take it a second time!

Rose was a much-loved administrator. Her explanation to me of her success as a principal was that she encouraged teachers who had suggestions about new things to do. She said, “I’d tell them ‘Go for it.” As a result, teachers and staff worked very hard and very happily.

Rose ‘s unbreakable spirit was always that of the spunky girl from South Philly, ready for fun. If you said, “Let’s go to …”  she always said “Oh, yes”. Sometimes her energy didn’t match her intention, but her love of life and fun was always there.

A few weeks ago, Rose was wearing colorful loungewear on her way down the hallway to get a pain pill. One of the sisters thought it looked Hawaiian and brought out a straw hat. A paper lei was later added to the outfit. Rose struck a few dramatic poses for the camera, bringing her flair and good humor to the group.

One time early in our years of living together on Marion Street, Sister Eileen Coleman was visiting. Both Rose and Eileen were in the kitchen, getting a little party supper organized. As I entered the room, I heard the end of a conversation. I heard “You can say that in the prayer service too.” I asked if Eileen was working on a congregational prayer service for Haiti or something else. Both laughed. One of them had done some simple kindness (like handing over a jar of olives, or a bottle of vermouth); the other said “I could share that at the wake prayer service for you.” After that, we often said, “That can go in my prayer service.” Or sometimes, “Don’t mention that in the prayer service!”

Well, prayer services are written and spoken by the survivors. So Rose, it is Eileen and I and all these loving family members and friends who grieve your passing, remember your valiant fight, and get to share memories and stories of your wonderful dance through life. We hope to follow your advice. We hope when we get a choice to sit it out or dance, we get up and dance!