Posted December 9, 2020

Sister Mary Christopher McBride, I.H.M., 96, died Nov. 21 in Camilla Hall in the 77th year of her religious life.

A native of Shamokin, Pa., the former Mary Kathryn McBride attended St. Joseph Elementary School and St. Joseph/St. Edward High School and graduated in 1941. She entered the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1943 and received her habit and religious name, Sister Mary Christopher, in 1944. She pronounced first vows on Aug. 15, 1946.

Later, while in the community, she earned degrees from Immaculata College and Villanova University.

Before she made her first vows, she served at Villa Maria Academy in Virginia from 1945 through 1952 where she taught sixth grade children. She then taught eighth grade children at St. James in Virginia for one year. She remained in Virginia and taught sixth and seventh grade students at St. Thomas More School in Arlington from 1953 through the school year ending in 1956.

Sister Christopher then served at Holy Innocents School in Philadelphia; St. Agnes in Sellersville; St. Monica, Philadelphia; Allentown Central High School; and Little Flower High School. In 1970, she returned to Virginia where she served as superior at Villa Maria Academy in Falls Church for the next six years.

From 1976 through 2006, Sister Christopher continued her teaching/serving ministry at St. Stephen in Port Carbon; Annunciation in Shenandoah; St. Joseph/St. Robert in Warrington; St. Jerome in Tamaqua; St. Stephen in Port Carbon; and back again to Annunciation in Shenandoah.

Sister Mary Christopher went to Camilla Hall where she continued to serve faithfully in the Apostolate of Prayer until her death.

The funeral Mass was Nov. 28 with Father Daniel J. Arechabala as the celebrant and homilist.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to: Camilla Hall Nursing Home, IHM Mission Advancement Office, 230 IHM Drive, Malvern, PA 19355.