Sister Helen Maureen Campbell died in Camilla Hall on November 9, 2022, in the 67th year of her religious life, just shy of her 86th birthday.
Mary Jane Campbell was born on November 16, 1936. Her parents William A. Campbell and Helen Brigid (O’Farrell) Campbell, each born in Ireland, raised Mary Jane and her sister Helen in St. Bernard Parish in Philadelphia.
Mary Jane attended Visitation Elementary School (1942-1950) and St. Hubert High School (1950-1954); later, while in Community, Sister earned a degree from Immaculata and an M.A. from LaSalle College in Theology.
Mary Jane entered our Congregation on September 8, 1955; she received her habit and her religious name, Sister Helen Maureen, on March 8, 1956; and Sister professed her First Vows on August 15, 1957.
Sister Helen Maureen entered her teaching ministry in the fall of 1957. Until the school year ending 1968, Sister instructed children in grades 6, 7, and 8 at St. Clement, Philadelphia; Blessed Virgin Mary, Darby; St. James, Savannah; and Annunciation, Bellmawr.
Sister Helen taught Religion to High School students from the fall of 1968 through the school year ending 1976. Sister taught at Archbishop Wood High School and Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill.
From August 1976 through June 1988, Sister served as Principal/Superior at St. James in Falls Church, Virginia; at St. Augustine/Mt. Carmel, Bridgeport; and St. Agnes, West Chester Sister instructed children in eighth grade and served as Superior.
Sister Helen taught high school students once again at Little Flower High School from 1988 through 2001 and from 2002 through 2008 at Villa Maria Academy Upper School in Malvern.
Beginning in August 2008 through July 2017, Sister served in the ministry of Pastoral Caregiving. Sister served as a hospital visitor at Fox Chase Cancer Center; served in Pastoral Activities and Parish Outreach at St. Dominic Parish, Philadelphia; and Pastoral Activities at St. James Parish in Falls Church, Virginia.
Sister Helen entered the Apostolate of Prayer community at Camilla Hall in August 2017. Though Sister grew quite ill, her gentle manner and goodness were always apparent. Sister continued to serve joyfully and prayerfully until her death shortly before her 86th birthday.
In addition to her IHM Community, Sister is survived by her cousins. Sister is predeceased by her parents William A. and Brigid Helen (O’Farrell) Campbell and her sister Helen McCormack (John).
Reverend Michael Callaghan C.M. was the main celebrant for Sister’s Funeral Mass with Reverend Msgr. Patrick Posey, VF who concelebrated on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 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