OBITUARY

Sister M. St. Francis Lyons

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SCRANTON, Penn. — Sister M. St. Francis Lyons, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

She was born on March 16, 1937, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and given the name Mary Ursula. She was the daughter of the late James and Mary Carney Lyons. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1955 and made her temporary profession of vows on March 13, 1958 and her final profession of vows on June 22, 1963.

Sister St. Francis served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Rita Elementary School in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1958 to 1964; St. Cecilia Elementary School in Exeter, Pennsylvania, from 1964 to 1966; St. Bernardine Elementary School in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1966 to 1968; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School in Forest Hills, New York, from 1968 to 1971; St. Monica Elementary School in Raleigh, North Carolina, from 1971 to 1972; Mother of Mercy Elementary School in Washington, North Carolina, from 1972 to 1973; St. Thomas Elementary School in Providence, Rhode Island, from 1973 to 1978; St. Patrick’s Elementary School in Scranton, Pennsylvania, from 1978 to 1979; and Our Lady of Peace Elementary School in Clarks Green, Pennsylvania, from 1979 to 1983.

Sister also served as director of religious education/director of transportation at St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania, from 1983 to 2016. From 2016 until the time of her death, Sister St. Francis served as a volunteer at St. Joseph’s Center. She received a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in elementary education from Marywood College.

She is preceded in death by two brothers, infant James F.; and James Vincent, and is survived by cousins and by the members of the IHM Congregation.

Sister’s funeral was held on Monday, Feb. 12, with a Mass of Christian Burial at the IHM Center Chape in Scranton. Interment followed Mass at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, Pennsylvania.

Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.