Sister M. Celeste Parry, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, at Regional Hospital in Scranton, Pa. She was 94. She was born on November 12, 1927, in Pittston, Pa., the daughter of the late Henry and Rose Ann Donahue Parry. She entered the IHM Congregation on Sept. 8, 1948, and made her temporary profession of vows on May 8, 1951, and her final profession of vows on Aug. 2, 1954.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in elementary education, both from Marywood College.
Sister Celeste served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Rose Elementary School in Carbondale, Pa. (1951-1954); Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School in Forest Hills, NY (1954-1956); St. Bernardine Elementary School in Baltimore, Md. (1956-1959); Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School in Scranton, Pa. (1959-1960); St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Silver Spring, Md. (1960-1966); St. Mary Elementary School in Patton, Pa. (1966); St. Matthew Elementary School in Wilmington, Del. (1966-1976); Our Lady of Peace Elementary School in Clarks Green, Pa. (1976-1977); St. Peter of Alcantara Elementary School in Port Washington, NY (1977-1984); and St. Ephrem Elementary School in Brooklyn (1984-2009).
Sister Celeste was a prayer minister at St. Ephrem Convent in Brooklyn from 2009-2014. From 2014 until the time of her death, Sister Celeste served in support services and as a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She is preceded in death by a brother, Joseph; and two sisters, Sister M. Jeannine, IHM, and Rose Ann McGrath. She is survived by nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and by the members of the IHM Congregation.
Interment will be at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, Pa.
Due to restrictions related to the pandemic, the funeral Mass and graveside service were private.
Sister Maureen de Lourdes Stock, CSJ, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph for 79 years, died on December 12, 2021, at Maria Regina Residence, Brentwood, New York, just a few weeks after celebrating her 100th birthday.
Maureen, born Oct. 23, 1921, was the daughter of Michael and Margaret Stock and was the “glue” that bonded her three brothers and their extended families together when she was young, and throughout her life. She attended Nativity School, Brooklyn, and Bishop McDonnell High School, Brooklyn, and earned a BS in Education from St. John’s University, Queens.
In 1942, Maureen entered the Sisters of St. Joseph and continued a life of deep faith, selflessness, and sensitivity to the needs of others, especially the students, parents, and parishioners she met during her 53 years of teaching in elementary schools in both the dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre.
Sister Maureen’s life was a prayer, and her full-hearted devotion to the Blessed Mother characterized her daily routine. After she retired from teaching, the people of Most Precious Blood were recipients of her concern and support, along with her longtime friend, Sister Josephine Adams.
Rev. Brian McNamara celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Maureen on December 15 in Sacred Heart Chapel, Brentwood. Her burial followed in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood.