Sister Mary McKinley (formerly Sister Josette Marie) died in Camilla Hall on July 6, 2025, just shy of her 97th birthday. Sister was in the 79th of her religious life. Sister was born on August 4, 1928. Sister’s parents John and Sarah (Phillips) McKinley raised their family of five in the upstate area of McAdoo, Pennsylvania. Sister Mary’s home parish while growing up was St. Patrick in McAdoo.
Mary attended St. Patrick Elementary School (1934-1942) and McAdoo High School (1942-1946). After Mary entered the community, she earned her degree from Immaculata in the areas of English and Spanish.
Mary entered the community on September 7, 1946; she received her habit and her religious name, Sister Josette Marie, on April 7, 1947, and she professed First Vows on April 17, 1949. Sister returned to the use of her baptismal name when the Sisters had the opportunity to do so.
Sister Mary began her apostolic ministry in April 1949. During this sacred journey, Sister Mary taught in a variety of areas and positions. Sister Mary taught first grade children for three years at St. Martin of Tours in Philadelphia. Sister’s next assignment took her to Peru in South America where, for five years, she instructed children in Kindergarten and second grade. When Sister returned to the States she taught eighth grade students at Immaculate Conception in Levittown for seven years. In the fall of 1967 Sister taught high school students, first at Archbishop Prendergast for two years and next at Notre Dame in Easton for one year.
In the fall of 1968 through the school year ended in 1973, Sister Mary served a dual role as seventh/eighth grade teacher at Sacred Heart School and superior of Sacred Heart Convent. Again, Sister served a dual role as Principal/Superior at Star of the Sea in Virginia Beach (1973-1976) and Holy Family in Harrisburg (1976-1977).
In the fall of 1977, through the school year ended in 1991, Sister taught elementary grade children at St. Bartholomew in East Brunswick, St. Veronica and St. Francis de Sales in Philadelphia. When Sister stepped out of full-time teaching at de Sales (1991), she stepped into full-time assisting students, teachers, parents, and loving colleagues at her beloved St. Francis de Sales until March 2008. In March, Sister began a brand-new ministry as a community team member in the Apostolate of Prayer.
As in all her loving service as a Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sister Mary McKinley returned to God on July 6, 2025, with heart and hands full of good works and loving deeds.
In addition to her IHM Community, her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews survive Sister Mary. Sister Mary’s parents John W. McKinley, Sr. and Sarah (Phillips) McKinley, her sister Anne Madochick (Emro), her brothers John W. McKinley, Jr., Francis X. McKinley, and Rev. Joseph J. McKinley, SJJ predecease Sister.
Reverend John Burger, SSC, (Homilist) celebrated Sister Mary McKinley’s Funeral Mass on Wednesday July 16, 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