Sister M. Martin de Porres McHale, IHM

Sister M. Martin de Porres McHale, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

Born on October 23, 1931, in Scranton, PA, and given the name Mary Anne, Sister Martin de Porres was the daughter of the late Thomas P. and Elizabeth Loftus McHale. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1955, made temporary profession of her vows on March 13, 1958, and final profession of her vows on June 22, 1963.  Sister Martin de Porres received a Bachelor of Science degree in education and a Master of Business Administration degree, both from Marywood College.

Sister Martin de Porres served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Monica Elementary School in Raleigh, NC, from 1958 to 1961; Bishop Klonowski High School in Scranton, PA, from 1961 to 1963; and Bishop Hannan High School in Scranton, PA, from 1963 to 1968.

Sister served as acting principal for several months at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA, in 1999.

Sister Martin de Porres also served as treasurer general for the IHM Congregation in Scranton, PA, from 1968 to 1978; business manager for the IHM Congregation in Scranton, PA, from 1978 to 1981; vice-president of business affairs at Marywood College in Scranton, PA, from 1981 to 1996; and consultant at Blue Cross of NEPA/First Priority Health Care in Wilkes-Barre, PA, from 1996 to 2012.

From 2012 until the time of her death, Sister Martin de Porres was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas and Joseph T. Sister Martin de Porres is survived by a brother, John E. and his wife, Pat, of Bowie, MD; nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; and by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Monday, September 30, 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 at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Sunday, September 29, between 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and on Monday, September 30 between 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. A prayer service will be held on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Interment will follow Mass on Monday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Prayer of Rememberance

Funeral Mass

Reflection

Given by Sister Katie Clauss, IHM Congregation President

By her baptismal call, Sister Martin de Porres was a woman of the Church.  For 66 years she devoted herself to joyful, loving, and hospitable service of God’s people. Her service was undertaken in prayerful union with God and supported by the shared vision and commitment of our sisters for the transformation of this world. She consciously chose to live in a way that allowed her talents, resources, spiritual gifts, and commitment to become a source of life-giving energy and creativity for all creation.

In mission and community, Martin was called out beyond herself to serve the sisters with whom she lived, the students she taught, and the colleagues with whom she ministered. Her reliance on God’s providence supported her as she responded to the needs of those she encountered. These moments awakened and drew her more deeply into the call she received to be a presence of God’s unconditional love wherever she was.  

Over the years I have heard numerous stories about Martin’s quiet and generous response to those who were in need. I don’t think that we will ever know how many women, men, and children were recipients of her kindness. Surely, her goodness was a blessing for each of them, a blessing that was never forgotten. 

As a daughter, a sister, and an aunt, Martin was deeply loved by her family. She now joins her parents, Thomas P. and Elizabeth McHale and her brothers Thomas and Joseph who have long awaited her presence.  

Our Sister Martin de Porres McHale staked her life on God’s word. It is Jesus, the Word of God, who now welcomes her home. 

On the day of her profession Martin committed herself to living fully and freely the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience throughout her life. She spent her life living into these vows, finding the depth of new meaning for them as an IHM Sister. So, today we rejoice in Martin’s fidelity.  We rejoice that she was a woman of the church, a woman who cared deeply for those she loved and those she served.  The pain and loss of her presence is very real today.  I believe that she is right on the other side of the veil and is available to you.  She will take care of you in her death as she did in her life.  You can take that to the bank.  That would probably be an expression that Martin would deeply appreciate. 

God bless you and know that we hold you in our hearts and in our prayer.