Sister Mary Angela Menna died in Camilla Hall on Sunday, November 12, 2023 in the 79th year of her religious life at the tender age of ‘almost’ 99.
Marie Antoinette Menna was born on February 27, 1925. Sister’s dear parents Anthony and Antoinette (Melchiorre) Menna were born in Italy. They eventually settled in South Philadelphia where they raised their three children in St. Thomas Parish.
Marie attended St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary (1930-1938) and Hallahan High School (1938-1942). Later while in Community, Sister earned her BM in Music from Immaculata College and an M.A. in Music from West Chester State.
Marie entered the Congregation on September 8, 1944; she received her habit and her religious name, Sister Mary Angela, on August 16, 1945, and she professed First Vows on August 15, 1947. Not long after Reception, Sister Mary Angela served at Holy Innocents School for one year and taught fourth grade and Music; she returned to the Novitiate during the 1946-1947 academic year in preparation for First Vows.
Beginning in August 1947 through the school year ending in 1958, Sister Mary Angela taught children in double grades and music, it was a daunting task and Sister handled it graciously and lovingly. Sister served grade school children in St. Joseph, Locust Gap; St. Joseph, Reading; and St. Veronica, Philadelphia. In the fall of 1958 through 1972, Sister Mary Angela taught high school students at St. Maria Goretti in South Philadelphia, Archbishop Prendergast in Drexel Hill, and Little Flower in Philadelphia. In 1972 through the school year ending 1975, Sister Mary Angela served as the Superior and Principal of Holy Family Convent/School in Manayunk.
Sister Mary Angela next served in a position of Congregational leadership; in 1975 Sister was appointed Regional Superior. Sister resided in St. William Convent in Philadelphia and visited yearly the Convents in her region through August 1981. Sister continued in leadership serving as superior of Villa Maria House of Studies through August 1988. When Sister left the Motherhouse she was appointed Superior of St. Cecilia Convent and Vice Principal of the school until the school year ending in 1993.
For the next 26 years Sister Mary Angela served in one capacity or another at the Motherhouse. Sister served as the Coordinator of the Spirituality Center (1993-2010); then to General Assistance in the Spirituality Center and caretaker of our Dining Room (2010-2019).
With a desire to continue to serve, Sister went to Camilla Hall in August 2019; Sister was a valuable member of the Apostolate of Prayer/Service Team. Sister was a faithful and prayerful IHM who served with grace and joy. May you enjoy the fruits of your labor, dear Sister Mary Angela.
In addition to her IHM Community, Sister Mary Angela is survived by her sister Mildred A. Shammo and her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Sister is predeceased by her dear parents Anthony and Antoinette (Melchiorre) Menna, her brother, Reverend Msgr. Francis A. Menna, and George Shammo her brother-in-law.
Reverend Shane Flanigan, Sister Mary Angela’s grandnephew celebrated Sister’s Funeral Mass and was the (homilist); joining Father Flanigan at the altar were Rev. Msgr. Charles Vance, Rev. Robert McDermott, Rev. Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem, Rev. John Burger, SCC, and Rev. Michael Callaghan, CM on Thursday, November 16, 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