Sister Maria Paula Delaney died in Camilla Hall on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, seven days prior to her 95th birthday.
Mary Theresa Delaney was born February 19, 1930. Her parents Michael Delaney and Bridget (Reilly) Delaney raised their family of two girls in St. Matthew Parish in Philadelphia.
Mary Theresa attended St. Dominic (1935-1937) and St. Matthew Elementary Schools (1937-1943). After grade school, Mary Theresa attended Nazareth Academy (1943-1944) and St. Hubert’s Catholic High School (1944-1947). While in Congregation, Sister earned an A.B. degree from Immaculata and an M.A. degree from Millersville State College.
Mary Theresa entered the Community on August 15, 1947, she received her habit and her religious name Sister Maria Paula on March 29, 1948. Sister Maria Paula professed First Vows on April 9, 1950.
Shortly after her First Profession, Sister Maria Paula went to St. Madeline Convent and School where she taught fourth grade children (4/50-6/53) and sixth grade children (9/53-1/1957). In January 1957, Sister Paula went to Santiago, Chile where she Sister taught sixth and eighth graders at Villa Maria in Chile during her six-year stay.
When Sister returned to the states after her mission in Chile, Sister Paula taught high school students at Notre Dame in Green Pond until the school year ending in 1965. Sister then returned to Villa Maria in Chile where she taught high school students through December 1969.
Beginning in January 1970 through the school year ending in 1993, Sister served in a variety of missions. Sister taught students at Cardinal Brennan High School in Fountain Springs, Bishop O’Connell in Arlington, VA, Archbishop Prendergast in Drexel Hill, St. Matthew, Father Judge, and Incarnation in Philadelphia.
When Sister left classroom teaching, after earning a stellar reputation as an excellent teacher, Sister Maria Paula rendered service at Conwell-Egan High School for the next eighteen years as an assistant in the Development Office.
Having served all her life as a Joyful Witness, Sister Maria Paula chose to go to Camilla Hall in the fall of 2012 to be of service to her Sisters in whatever way she could. Sister served faithfully and prayerfully until her death on February 12, 2025. God rest her dear soul! May she rest in peace.
In addition to her IHM Community and her local Community at Camilla Hall, Sister Maria Paula is survived by her nieces, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Sister is predeceased by her parents Michael Delaney and Bridget (Reilly) Delaney, and her sister Joanne Schwartz (Thomas).
Reverend John Burger, S.C.C., celebrated Sister Paula’s Funeral Mass on Saturday February 15, 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