Sister Maria Clemens Baronett (Formerly Catherine Ethel Baronett) died in Camilla Hall on April 28, 2021 in the 75th year of her religious life.
Catherine Baronett was born on May 26, 1928. Her parents Louis and Ethel (McDonald) Baronett raised their family in St. John the Baptist Parish in Manayunk, PA. Catherine attended St. John the Baptist Elementary (1934-1942) and St. John the Baptist High School (1942-1946).
Catherine entered our IHM Community on the Feast of the Assumption on August 15, 1946 shortly after graduating from high school. On April 7, 1947, Catherine received her habit and her religious name Sister Maria Clemens. On April 17, 1949, Sister Maria Clemens pronounced her First Vows. Later that April Sister went to St. Martin of Tours to teach first graders; Sister remained at her first mission until the school year ending 1952.
Beginning in the fall of 1952 through the school year ending in 1979, Sister Maria Clemens taught children in St. Mary’s Phoenixville; St. Teresa, Runnemede; St. Matthew, Philadelphia; St. Charles, Drexel Hill; Sacred Heart, Manoa; and St. Gabriel, St. Cecilia, Most Blessed Sacrament and Immaculate Conception successively Philadelphia.
In the fall of 1979, Sister’s ministry went from teaching children to assisting at Camilla Hall, our convent home for our elderly Sister. Sister volunteered for a year of service.
In the fall of 1980, Sister Maria Clemens went to St. Monica Convent to reside. There she served children in the Day Care Center at St. Monica Parish. Sister worked with ‘little ones’ until January 1999.
In January 1999, Sister Maria Clemens joined the Apostolate of Prayer Community at our convent home in Camilla Hall. Sister was an integral part of the Camilla community to the moment of her death on April 28, 2021.
In addition to her IHM Community, Sister is survived by her sisters Phil (John, deceased), Frances Jeffreys (Michael, deceased), her brother John (Muriel, deceased) and her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Sister is predeceased by her parents and her brother Louis Baronett.
Due to Covid-19, Visitation, Funeral Mass, and Interment were private. We celebrated Sister’s Funeral Mass on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. Reverend Joseph C. Dieckhaus, pastor of SS. Philip/James Parish, was the Celebrant and Homilist; Reverend Joseph Kelley and Deacon Leonard de Masi joined Father at the altar.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355