Sister M. Claire Holzenthaler (formerly Sister Mary Vincent) died in Camilla Hall on Saturday, February 1, 2025, in the 71st year of her religious life.
Claire was born on November 16, 1935, to Vincent and Elizabeth (Flannery) Holzenthaler in Philadelphia. Claire and her siblings Alice, Elizabeth, and Margaret were raised in Holy Child Parish.
Claire attended Holy Child Elementary (1941-1949), Little Flower High School (1949-1953), and while in Community Sister earned an A.B. degree in Elementary Education from Immaculata College.
Claire entered the Community on September 8, 1953, following the example of her older sister Margaret (Sister Marie Andrew). Margaret, too, entered the Community on September 8th but in 1949. Claire received her habit and her religious name, Sister Mary Vincent, on March 8, 1954; Sister Mary Vincent professed her First Vows on March 10, 1956.
Shortly after her First Profession, Sister Mary Vincent served as an educator par excellence for the next sixty-two years. Sister brought joy and professionalism wherever she served. Sister ministered in several different capacities from March 1956 through February 2018. From March 1956 through June 1979, Sister Claire taught children in grades 1, 6, 7, and 8 in the following parishes: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Bridgeport, St. Cyril in East Lansdowne, Villa Maria/St. James in Falls Church Virginia, St. Agnes in West Chester, Good Shepherd in Camp Hill, Immaculate Conception in Levittown, St. Martin of Tours in Philadelphia, and in St. Irenaeus-Raphael, Sister was the Principal and taught 7th and 8th grade students. Sister Claire exuded competence.
Sister Claire served as Vice Principal at St. Anselm School in Philadelphia for two years. Then, in the fall of 1980, Sister was assigned as Principal of Holy Trinity School in Morrisville. From Morrisville Sister Claire was asked to serve as Superior/Principal of Holy Name (1982-1984) followed by the same task at St. Louis in Yeadon (1984-1990).
Next, Sister Claire returned to a former mission, St. Cyril in East Lansdowne, as Superior, Tutor, and Religious Enrichment Instructor. Again, Sister returned to a former mission, St. Anselm in Philadelphia where she worked with the children in the coveted role of Religious Enrichment Instructor.
In August 2001, Sister was asked to serve as Superior of our relatively newly established House of Prayer, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, in Nesquehoning. Sister served in this capacity for six years and was a model IHM who graciously served our Sisters and many visitors to the House of Prayer.
In the fall of 2007 through January 2018, Sister Claire ministered to the children at St. Laurence School in Upper Darby. Sister worked diligently to enrich the children’s religious experience.
Sister Claire’s next religious experience came in February 2018 when and where Sister embraced her fellow IHM Prayer Warriors at Camilla Hall. Pray and Serve, and that is just what she did!
From September 8, 1953 to February 1, 2025 – 72 years – IHM – Faithful Witness! We will miss you sweet Claire, God rest your beautiful soul.
In addition to her IHM Community and her local Community at Camilla Hall, Sister Claire is survived by her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Sister is predeceased by her parents Vincent and Elizabeth (Flannery) Holzenthaler, her sisters Sister Margaret Holzenthaler, IHM, Alice Hennessy (Raymond) and Elizabeth Hogan (Francis).
Reverend Msgr. John McCann, Reverend John Burger, S.C.C., and Reverend Francis Chambers, O.S.A. concelebrated Sister Claire’s Funeral Mass on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355