Sister Mary Faith Lawler, IHM died in Camilla Hall on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 in the 69th year of her religious life.
Madeleine M. Lawler was born on July 8, 1937. Joseph Lawler and Mary (Spencer) Lawler, her parents, raised their family in St. Benedict Parish in Philadelphia. Madeleine attended Immaculate Conception Elementary School (1943-1951) and Little Flower High School for Girls (1951-1955). Later, while in Community, Sister earned her degree in Elementary Education from Immaculata College.
Madeleine entered the Congregation on September 8, 1955; she received her habit and her religious name, Sister Mary Faith, on March 8, 1956, and professed her First Vows on August 15, 1957.
From the fall of 1957 through the school year ended in 2003, Sister Mary Faith taught grade school children. During Sister’s 46 years of teaching children, Sister touched the hearts of IHM Sisters, children, families and colleagues at St. Barnabas Philadelphia, St. Joseph Collingdale, SS. Simon and Jude Westtown, St. Edward Shamokin, Most Blessed Sacrament Philadelphia, Our Lady of Grace Penndel, Immaculate Heart Chester, St. Martin of Tours Philadelphia, Incarnation Trenton, St. Joseph/Robert Warrington, and Our Lady of Fatima Secane.
For the next 12 years (8-03 – 8-15) Sister Mary Faith worked with children in the Learning Support Center in St. Martin of Tours school. Sister Faith was a master teacher! Sister’s gentleness and loving manner taught as much as any academic material.
In August 2015 Sister Mary Faith offered to assist our Sisters in Camilla Hall. Sister rendered to our Sisters in Camilla the same joyful and enthusiastic service she rendered throughout her teaching ministry. In December 2020, Sister Faith’s health declined somewhat, and she went to Camilla Hall to be a part of the Apostolate of Prayer Team. Sister Mary Faith was as pleasant and joyful in her declining years as she was throughout her religious life of prayer, faithful service and joyful commitment.
In addition to her IHM Community, Sister Faith is survived by her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Sister is predeceased by her parents Joseph E. Lawler and Mary H. Lawler (Spencer), her brother Joseph (Sonny) Lawler, her sisters Marlene Gola (Al) and Betty Vandenburg (Jack).
Reverend John Burger, SSC celebrated Sister Mary Faith’s Funeral Mass on Thursday, November 7, 2024 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
Live streaming will be available Here.
Interment Immaculata Cemetery
Memorial donations may be sent to Camilla Hall Nursing Home in care of IHM Mission Advancement Office.