Sister Mary Edwardine Coleman, IHM
(Formerly Sister Edwardine Marie)
Sister Mary Edwardine Coleman, formerly Sister Edwardine Marie, died peacefully in Camilla Hall on Wednesday, March 10 in the 57th year of her religious life.
Sister Edwardine was born on January 20, 1945 in Philadelphia. Her dear Mom, Mary (Kuen) Coleman raised Edwardine alone; her dear Dad died during WW2 in 1944. Edwardine and her Mom lived in St. Boniface Parish. Edwardine graduated from St. Boniface Elementary School in 1959; followed by her attendance at Hallahan Girls’ High School from which she graduated in 1963.
Edwardine entered our IHM Congregation on September 8, 1963; she received her religious habit and her religious name, Sister Edwardine Marie, on June 27, 1964. Sister pronounced her First Vows on June 28, 1966.
Sister Edwardine’s first assignment was SS. Simon & Jude School/Convent in Westtown. Sister served in that parish from September 1966 through December 1966. A need arose, and Sister went to St. Clement in Philadelphia for the next three years. Sister’s expertise in teaching primary grade children was growing. Sister taught the ‘little ones’ at St. Joan of Arc; Good Shepherd; Our Lady of Pompeii; St. Monica; St. Charles; Holy Innocents; Annunciation (Philadelphia); Immaculate Conception; St. Joseph (Downingtown); St. Richard; St. Joseph (Reading); St. Anselm; and Holy Innocents (a return trip). Along the way of her teaching journey, beginning in September 1966 through June 2006, Sister touched the hearts and lives of many children and their families with joy and loving kindness.
In the fall of 2006, Sister Edwardine assisted children in the Library at St. Veronica for one year followed by seven years at St. David in Willow Grove teaching Religious Enrichment. In the fall of 2014, Sister Edwardine volunteered her service at our convent home and infirmary at Camilla Hall until August 2017. Sister’s health began to diminish and Sister moved her residence from Pacis Hall to Camilla Hall as a patient. Sister was a ‘patient’ patient and served her Sisters as a member of the Apostolate of Prayer until her death on Wednesday, March 10, 2021.
Reverend Michael Gerlach celebrated Sister’s Funeral Mass at Camilla Hall on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. Sister Mary Edwardine’s dear parents Edward James Coleman and Mary Magdalen (Kuen) Coleman predecease her. In addition to her Congregation of IHM Sisters, her beloved Aunt Emma and loving cousins mourn her passing and give thanks for her life of loving and faithful service.
God rest her sweet soul.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355