Sister Mary Edward Loftus, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. St. Edward) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, October 5, 2020, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton. She was born on December 28, 1931, in Pittston, PA, and given the name Mary Grace. She was the daughter of the late Edward and Mary Quinnan Loftus. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1950, and made her temporary profession of vows on August 2, 1953, and her final profession of vows on August 2, 1956.
Sister Mary Edward served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Patrick Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1953 to 1954; Holy Rosary Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1954 to 1956; St. Mary Elementary School in Patton, PA, from 1956 to 1958; Archbishop Neale Elementary School in La Plata, MD, from 1958 to 1959; St. Leo Elementary School in Ashley, PA, from 1973 to 1974; and St. Raymond Elementary School in East Rockaway, NY, from 1990 to 1991.
Sister served as principal at the following schools: St. Raymond Elementary School in East Rockaway, NY, from 1959 to 1968; Our Lady of Grace Elementary School in Greensboro, NC, from 1968 to 1973; St. Ephrem Elementary School in Brooklyn, NY, from 1974 to 1983; St. Mary Elementary School in Manhasset, NY, from 1983 to 1988; St. Mary of the Assumption Elementary School in Upper Marlboro, MD, from 1988 to 1989; and as assistant principal at St. Ann Elementary School in New York, NY, from 1989 to 1990.
She also served as a library assistant at St. Patrick Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1991 to 1996; library coordinator at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School in Forest Hills, NY, from 1996 to 2007; and as volunteer at the Friccione Day Care Center in Scranton, PA, from 2010 to 2011.
From 2007 until the time of her death, Sister Mary Edward was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Marywood College, and a Master of Education degree in elementary administration from Lehigh University.
She is preceded in death by a brother, John, who died in infancy; and two infant sisters. She is survived by cousins; and by the members of the IHM Congregation.
Interment will be at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA. Due to restrictions related to the coronavirus, the funeral mass and graveside service are private.
Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.
