Sister M. Eamon O’Neill of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) passed away at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton on Nov. 16.
Sister Eamon was born on Feb. 26, 1929, in Syracuse, N.Y., and given the name Margaret Loretta. She was the daughter of the late Edward and Loretta Cassidy O’Neill and the stepdaughter of the late Elizabeth Dermody O’Neill, whom she regarded as mother since the age of two. She entered the IHM congregation on Sept. 8, 1946, made her temporary profession of vows on May 8, 1947, and made her final profession of vows on Aug. 2, 1952.
Sister Eamon received a bachelor of science degree in education/English from Marywood College; a master of arts degree in education/English from Villanova University; a master of science degree in education/reading from the University of Delaware; and doctor of education degree from Columbia University.
She served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Ann’s Elementary School in Scranton, Pa., from 1949 to 1950; St. Mary’s Elementary School in Manhasset, N.Y., from 1950 to 1954; Mother of Mercy Elementary School in Washington, N.C., from 1954 to 1961; Central Catholic High School in Portland, Ore., from 1961 to1966; and Bishop O’Hara High School in Dunmore, Pa., from 1996 to 1997. She also served as the assistant supervisor/reading consultant for the Wilmington Diocesan offices in Wilmington, Del., from 1966 to 1970. She served at Marywood University in Scranton, Pa., from 1972 to 1988 as graduate dean; from 1988 to 1994 as director of Act 101, and as a teacher with the Off Campus Program; and as a Pennsylvania Education Certification officer from 1997 to 2004. Sister was appointed principal at Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse from 1994 to 1996. She served on the support staff at the Marian Convent in Scranton from 2004 to 2006.
Sister Eamon was moderator of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Guild in the Diocese of Scranton from 1990 to 1994.
From 2006 until the time of her death, Sister Eamon was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton. Sister Eamon is survived by nieces, nephews and cousins in the United States and Northern Ireland, and members of the IHM congregation. A brother, William, and a sister, Mary Leona Purcell, preceded her in death.
A funeral Mass was held at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton on Nov. 18. Interment followed at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, Pa.
Memorial contributions may be made in Sister Eamon’s name to the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Ave., Scranton, Pa. 18509.
