Sister M. Sarah Lamb (formerly Sister Maria William) suffered a fatal brain bleed and died in Camilla Hall on Tuesday, May 27, 2023, in the 55th year of her religious life.
“Sally” was born on July 4, 1949. Sister’s parents William C. Lamb and Mary Margaret (Kelly) Lamb raised their family of nine children in Saint Cecilia Parish in Coatesville, PA. Sally attended Saint Cecilia Elementary School (1955-1963) and Bishop Shanahan High School (1963-1967). Sally entered the Congregation after high school. Eventually, Sister earned her A.B. in Theology from Immaculata College; her B.M in Music Education from Immaculata; an M.A. from St. Charles Seminary in Religious Studies, and an M.S. degree from Neumann College in Pastoral Counseling.
Sister Sarah Lamb entered the Community on September 8, 1967, she received her habit and her religious name, Sister Maria William, on June 27, 1968, and she professed First Vows on June 28, 1970.
For the first twenty-two years of Sister Sarah’s teaching ministry, she served children as an elementary grade teacher combined with teaching Music. Sister worked with children at St. Anastasia, Newtown Square; St. Matthew, Connecticut; Villa Maria Academy, Lynchburg, VA; St. Michael, Annandale, VA; Villa Maria Academy (music only), Immaculata; and St. Monica, Philadelphia. For a brief time, Sister taught high school students first at Immaculata, Somerville, NJ, for one year and at Our Lady of Lourdes in Miami for two years.
From August 1992 through August 2001, Sister Sarah ministered to and taught our newest community members how to be IHM Sisters. Sister served the Formation Community first as Directress of Postulants/Formation Assistant, then solely as Directress of Postulants, then as Directress of Sisters in Temporary Profession. Sister Sarah beautifully modeled our IHM Spirit to these Sisters young in the Community. Following her ministry in Formation, Sister Sarah taught Theology to students at Villa Maria Academy Upper School for one year.
While Sister Sarah served in our Formation Program, Sister earned her degree in Pastoral Counseling in 1999. After her term in Formation, Sister served as a Pastoral Minister at St. Joachim Parish in Philadelphia from August 2002 through July 2006. From August 2006 through August 2010, Sister ministered with other Spiritual Directors and Pastoral Ministers at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Wernersville. Sister was an esteemed team member in Wernersville who also participated in Music Ministry at St. Peter’s Parish in Reading.
In August 2010, Sister Sarah graciously served as the Co-Director of our IHM Spirituality Center at our Motherhouse in Immaculata until August 2012; after which, she rejoined the Jesuit Center Wernersville Staff through July 2016.
Sister Sarah’s diversity of service is highlighted once again. Sister served as local superior at Immaculate Heart Convent in Philadelphia and Site Director at St. Francis de Sales Literacy Program until August 2019. Sister was then asked to serve as local superior at Our Lady of Lourdes Convent and to teach Theology at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy High School in Miami.
In August 2021 Sister Sarah went lovingly to serve our Sisters in Camilla Hall. Sister was an integral part of the Holistic Support Team until her sudden death on May 27, 2023. As in “all things Sally,” she served all the Sisters in her care through the years with graciousness, gentleness, encouragement, and hope. God rest your beautiful soul, Sister Sarah, gentle woman, quiet light. . . pray for us.
In addition to her IHM Community, her Sisters in Pacis Hall and Camilla Hall, Sister Sarah is survived by her sisters: Kathryn O’Hara (Dennis), Marietta Mawby (Norman), Marcella DeCapite (James) Teresa Carver (John) Kelly Ennis (David) and her brothers William Lamb Jr. (Patricia), Rev. Patrick Lamb, Gerald Lamb (Jacqueline) and her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Sister’s dear parents William C. and Mary Margaret (Kelly) Lamb predecease her.
The Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert was present for Sister Sarah Lamb’s Funeral Mass. Sally’s brother, Reverend Patrick Lamb, celebrated her Funeral Mass and delivered the homily.
Rev. Thomas Orsulak, Rev. Martin Kearns, Rev. Keith Mathur, Rev. James Torpey, Rev. Richard Clements, and Rev. Michael Callaghan, CM joined Father Lamb at the altar on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 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