Sister Incarnata Maria DiPilla, IHM died in Camilla Hall on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 in the 78th year of her religious life. Not too long before Sister’s death, she celebrated her 99th birthday!
Elsie Anna DiPilla was born on August 31, 1925. Her parents Michael DiPilla and Catherine (Giannini) DiPilla. While both of her parents are of Italian lineage, Mr. DiPilla was born in Italy and Mom was born in the United States. Mr. and Mrs. DiPilla raised Elsie and her sisters Angelina, Marie, and Virginia in Our Lady of Pompeii Parish in Philadelphia.
Elsie attended both Alexander K. McClure Elementary (1933-1938) and Our Lady of Pompeii Elementary, an Italian National Parish School, (1938-1939). Elsie then attended Little Flower High School.
Elsie entered the Congregation on September 7, 1946; she received her habit and her religious name, Sister Incarnata Maria, on April 7, 1947, and Sister pronounced her First Vows on April 17, 1949.
Sister Incarnata served the Community as a housekeeper for the first eleven years after her profession of vows. Sister served at Villa Maria in Falls Church, Virginia; St. Aloysius Academy in Bryn Mawr, and Villa Maria Convent in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Sister Incarnata rendered an invaluable service to the Sisters missioned in these convents.
From the fall of 1960 to the school year ended in 1987, Sister Incarnata worked with the younger children in grades 1, 2, and 3. Sister taught children in Immaculate Conception in Germantown, St. Ann in Phoenixville, St. Joseph School in Ashland, St. Joseph School in Collingdale, and St. Charles School in Cornwells Heights. In the fall of 1987, Sister assisted the children in reading at St. Lucy Day School in Philadelphia through the school year ended in 1991.
Sister Incarnata next served as a tutor for the children in Assumption School in Feasterville from September 1991 through June 2009. Sister remained in Assumption Convent until August 2011 where she served the Sisters as an assistant in the Convent.
Sister Incarnata then became part of the Apostolate of Prayer/Assist community at Camilla Hall. Sister served faithfully, joyfully, and prayerfully in each act of loving service she rendered+. God took her to Himself on December 3, 2024. God rest her beautiful soul.
In addition to her IHM Community, Sister Incarnata is survived by her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Sister is predeceased by her parents Michael DiPilla and Catherine (Giannini) DiPilla; her sisters Angelina Bonino (Nuncio), Marie DiPilla, and Virginia Pirolli (Alfred).
Reverend Michael Olivere, Reverend John Burger, SSC and Reverend Francis Chambers, OSA concelebrated Sister Incarnata Maria’s Funeral Mass on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355