Sister Sandra Grieco, IHM

Sister Sandra Grieco, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.  

Born on May 26, 1949, in Lock Haven, PA, given the name Sandra Mae, Sister Sandra was the daughter of the late Paul and Irene Schrack Grieco. She entered the IHM Congregation on August 29, 1971, made temporary profession of her vows on June 2, 1974, and final profession of her vows on July 31, 1977. Sister Sandra received a Bachelor of Science degree in business, and a Master of Arts degree in secondary counseling, both from Marywood College.

Sister Sandra served as a physical education teacher at Seton Catholic High School in Pittston, PA, from 1975 to 1984; and at Bishop Hoban High School in Wilkes-Barre, PA, from 1984 to 1986.  

Sister served as guidance counselor at the following schools: Bishop Hoban High School in Wilkes-Barre, PA, from 1984 to 1986; Holy Cross High School in Delran, NJ, from 1986 to 1992; and Bishop Hafey High School in Hazleton, PA, from 1992 to 1994. She also served as a counselor and academic advisor at Neumann College in Aston, PA, from 1994 to 2001.

Sister Sandra served at St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington, DE, as the school nurse’s assistant from 2003 to 2009; as registrar and studies office clerk from 2009 to 2011; and as pastoral associate from 2011 to 2021.

Sister Sandra was the pastoral care coordinator at Saint Joseph’s Center in Scranton, PA, from 2021 to 2023.

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

Sister Sandra is survived by two brothers, Robert and wife, Linda, of Lock Haven, PA, and Richard and wife, Theresa, of Pearl River, LA, nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews. She is also survived by her beloved friend, Sister Redempta Sweeney, IHM, and all the members of the IHM Congregation. 

The funeral will be Monday, November 4, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 1510 University Avenue in Dunmore, PA. Friends may call on Sunday, November 3, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace Residence. A prayer service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Interment will follow Mass on Monday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Prayer of Remembrance

Funeral Mass: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/134067176 and https://video.ibm.com/recorded/134067227

Reflection

Given by Sister Terri Jordan, IHM Leadership Team Member

I would like to welcome everyone to this prayer service for Sister Sandy Grieco. I extend our sympathy to Sandy’s brothers, Robert and Richard, and their families and to her dear and faithful friend, Sister Redempta.

This reflection draws from the memories of several of Sandy’s friends and conveys the essence of who she was.

Gratitude, humility, courage, fair-mindedness, humor, intelligence, and enduring personal honesty were the hallmarks of Sandy’s life.  She spoke and modeled the truth in words; her lessons were soul-deep. Her resilience in the face of numerous difficulties, especially health-related, was a source of inspiration for many. She never gave up; never gave in, and her courage was such an inspiration to so many.

We knew Sandy as sister, teacher, mission coordinator, mentor, counselor, coach and so much more, but most of all, as friend.  She loved life and lived it to the fullest, imparting to us her infectious joy. Her zest for life often led to amusing incidents, like when she returned from a not-approved beach outing with purple legs from her newly acquired jeans because she forgot her non-sisterly clothes.  Though seemingly mischievous, these moments were a testament to her love for life and her ability to find joy in every situation. 

Sandy never sought personal honors or attention and was humbled by the gratitude she received from so many whose lives she touched.  That’s what I think really made her so special to us.  Her focus was never on herself but always on others.  People mattered deeply to her, and they knew it.  She relished these relationships and encounters because that’s where she found God, too.

We’ll miss Sandy… her smile, wit, generosity, resilience, honesty, and capacity to inspire happiness in the hearts of those she met each day.  We will miss her undying kindness, her faith, and her all-inclusive love.  She touched our lives in many ways, especially as a friend.

Melanie Svoboda, SND, wrote the following poem; it has been adapted to capture our gratitude for Sandy’s life.

We called you friend, for you were home to us.  Within the shelter of your good company, we safely laid our burdens down. We called you friend, for you were healing for us.  You listened to all we had to say and, in so doing, we were made more whole.

We called you friend, for you allowed us to be our true selves.  Because of you, we are more of the person we want to be.

We called you friend.  In part, we were alike, sharing deep values we seldom had to articulate.  In part, we were different, and our differences broadened our perspectives, spurred our growth, and, yes, at times, honed our patience.

We called you friend, for you encouraged us not merely by your words but by the example of your own strivings, questionings, and yearnings.

We called you friend. You were our cheerleader, rousing us to stay in the game of life.  You were our ground control, confirming where we were and where we were headed.

We called you friend.

Our lives are better because Sandy was a part of them.  May the memory of her life be for us a light in the darkness; may we think of her and know God is with us; may we join our hearts with hers and trust in the power of resurrection:  A cherished earthly journey has ended, but an eternal heavenly residence has been set up – and a smiling Sandy stands waiting at the door for us to join her.