Posted July 21, 2021

Sister M. Barbara Ann Colligon, I.H.M., died June 13 in Camilla Hall, Immaculata. She was 83, and in the 64th year of her religious life.

One of three children of William and Catherine (Fleming) Colligon of St. Martin of Tours Parish in Philadelphia, Barbara attended St. Martin of Tours Elementary School and Little Flower High School, from which she graduated in 1955.

She entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1957 and received her habit and her religious name, Sister M. Catherine William, in 1958. In 1960 she professed her first vows in the order.

Later she earned degrees from Immaculata College and Glassboro State College.

Sister Barbara’s first assignment was to St. Joan of Arc School in Philadelphia in 1960, followed by numerous other assignments through 2009 including Our Lady of Pompeii, Philadelphia; St. Thomas, Croydon; Villa Maria, Falls Church, Va.; St. Matthew, Philadelphia; Our Lady of Ransom, Philadelphia; St. John Bosco, Hatboro (where she served as convent superior, principal and seventh grade teacher), St. Ephrem, Bensalem; Our Lady of Grace, Somerdale, N.J. and Immaculate Heart in Girardville, Pa.

She also served as superior and eighth grade teacher in St. Clement, Philadelphia and Queen of Heaven, Cherry Hill, N.J., as well as a 12 year stint teaching students in the honors math program at St. Michael in Annandale, Va.

From 2009 to 2012, Sister Barbara worked as an office assistant at St. Cyril School in East Lansdowne, then tutored students at St. Matthew School in Forestville, Connecticut until 2016. Later that year she entered Camilla Hall and served in the Apostolate of Prayer until her death.

Sister Barbara is predeceased by her parents William and Catherine Colligon and her brother Tom and his wife Dolores. She is survived by her brother Bill, his wife Marianne and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Father Louis Monica was the celebrant and homilist for Sister Barbara’s funeral Mass June 18.

Memorial donations may be sent to: Camilla Hall Nursing Home, IHM Mission Advancement Office, 230 IHM Drive, Malvern, PA 19355.