Sister Maureen Cryan, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. St. Virginia) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.
Born on January 26, 1927, in New York, NY, Sister Maureen was the daughter of the late Francis and Sarah Drake Cryan. She entered the IHM Congregation on October 7, 1950, made temporary profession of her vows on August 2, 1953, and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1956.
Sister Maureen received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/history/education from Marywood College, a Master of Science degree in social science/education from Duquesne University, and a Master of Science degree in religious education from Marywood College.
Sister Maureen served as a teacher in the following schools: St. Thomas Elementary School in Coeur d’Alene, ID, from 1953 to 1954; St. Lawrence Elementary School in Portland, OR, from 1954 to 1955; St. John the Evangelist High School in Pittston, PA, from 1955 to 1956; Holy Angels Elementary School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1956 to 1960; Archbishop Neale High School in La Plata, MD, from 1960 to 1961; Most Holy Rosary High School in Syracuse, NY, from 1961 to 1963; Marywood Seminary High School in Scranton, PA, from 1963 to 1967; St. Rose High School in Carbondale, PA, from 1967 to 1969; Bishop Guilfoyle High School in Altoona, PA, from 1969 to 1975; St. Ambrose Elementary School in Bridgeport, CT, from 1975 to 1976; Maria Regina High School in Uniondale, NY, from 1976 to 1979; Loyola High School in New York, NY, from 1979 to 1981; and St. Michael Academy in New York, NY, from 1981 to 2001.
Sister also served as a teacher in the general education development program at Grace Outreach Program in South Bronx, NY, from 2001 to 2005; and volunteered at New York Cares and Fox House in New York, NY, from 2005 to 2007.
Sister Maureen served on the board of directors for Samaritan House in Brooklyn, NY, a temporary residence for homeless women and children.
From 2007 until the time of her death, Sister Maureen was a prayer minister at her home in New York, and at Our Lady of Peace Residence.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Francis and Brendan. Sister Maureen is survived by a sister, Patricia Bodack of Easton, MD; nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews living along the East Coast, California and Canada. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.
The funeral will be Tuesday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 1510 University Avenue in Dunmore, PA. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Tuesday, September 30, between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow Mass on Tuesday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.
Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired Sisters of IHM c/o the Sisters of IHM Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PAÂ 18509.
