Sister Mary Cyril Meehan died on October 16, 2021 after a very full life praising and serving our God as a Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Sister Cyril celebrated her 100th birthday on February 7, 2021. Sister edified all those she encountered during her lifetime.
Anna Meehan was born on February 7, 1921 in Shenandoah, PA. Sister’s parents, Edward and Mary (Fitzgerald) Meehan, raised their family of three girls and one boy in Annunciation Parish in Shenandoah. Sister attended Annunciation Elementary School from 1927-1931 and Wilson Public Elementary School from 1931-1935; then, she attended Shenandoah Catholic High School from which she graduated in 1939. Later, while in Community, she earned her degree from Immaculata College in Elementary Education.
Anna Meehan entered the Congregation on July 3, 1939; she received her habit and her religious name, Sister Mary Cyril on January 4, 1940. Sister pronounced her First Vows on August 14, 1942.
In August 1942, Sister began her teaching ministry at St. William School in Philadelphia where she taught second grade children. During the course of her teaching ministry, (through the school year ending 1992), Sister taught primary grade children, with an exception of a period when Sister taught sixth grade children (the fall of 1985 through the school year ending 1992).
Sister Mary Cyril served children and their families in many parishes: St. William, Good Shepherd, St. Martin of Tours, Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Name, St. John of the Cross, St. Dorothy, Sacred Heart (W. Reading), Our Lady of Grace (Somerdale, NJ), St. Bartholomew (East Brunswick), St. Barnabas, St. Clement, and St. Laurence.
During the 1992 – 1993 school year, Sister was a team member serving in the Literacy Program conducted at St. Francis de Sales. At the conclusion of this year, Sister went to St. Aloysius Academy to render General Assistance. From here, Sister Mary Cyril resided at Pacis Hall for two years and ministered to our Sister in Camilla Hall; after which, Sister returned to her beloved Shenandoah to offer assistance at Annunciation Convent for two years.
In November 1997, once again, Sister Mary Cyril resided in Pacis Hall and served at our Sisters at Camilla Hall as a staff member. In August 2006, Sister’s final assignment was to serve our Sisters as a member of the Apostolate of Prayer and to render assistance, as she was able.
On October 16, 2021, Sister Mary Cyril went to the Lord with very full hands. May she rest in peace.
Sister’s dear parents, Edward and Mary Agnes (Fitzgerald) Meehan, her sister Catherine Gregg (John), and her brother James Meehan (Sarah) predecease her. In addition to her IHM Community, Sister Mary Cyril’s sister, Margaret (Meehan) Zwaan (William), and her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews survive Sister.
Rev. Michael Callaghan and Rev. Joseph Meehan (Sister Cyril’s cousin) concelebrated Sister Funeral Liturgy on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at 10:30 AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355