Posted January 10, 2022

Sister Maureen Lawrence McDermott, I.H.M., died Nov. 17, 2021 in Bryn Mawr Hospital at age 65. She was in the 42nd year of her religious life.

Margie Anne McDermott was born July 2, 1956 in Philadelphia, daughter of the late Lawrence J. and Margaret (Cannon) McDermott. She first attended St. Gabriel Elementary School in South Philadelphia until her family moved to St. Joseph Parish in Collingdale, and she graduated from that parish school in 1970. She then attended Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill and graduated in 1974.

She went on to Immaculata College and graduated in 1978 with an A.B. in English and secondary education from Immaculata College.

She entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1979, received her religious habit and religious name, Sister Maureen Lawrence, the following year and pronounced her first vows in 1982.

Later, while in the congregation, she earned an M.A. degree in English from West Chester University and a PhD in administration/supervision from Fordham University.

Sister Maureen taught seventh grade students at St. Martin of Tours School in Philadelphia for two years and at St. Madeline in Ridley Park for four years. In 1988, she went to Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote where she taught English for seven years. From 1995 to 1998 she taught English at Villa Maria Academy in Malvern.

In 1998 she began a period of internship at Bishop Shanahan High School that led to her appointment as vice principal for academic affairs in 2000. The following year Sister Maureen became principal of Bishop Shanahan where she served in that capacity until 2016.

In that year Sister Maureen was named superintendent of secondary schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the position she held until the time of her passing.

Sister Maureen is survived by her sister Patrice Haines, brother Lawrence J. McDermott (Marguerite) and her niece, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, and her I.H.M. community. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother-in-law Thomas Haines.

The funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 27 in Sacred Heart Chapel, Villa Maria House of Studies. Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald was the mail celebrant, and concelebrants included Bishop John J. McIntyre, Fathers William J. Chiriaco, John Masson, James McKeaney, William Grogan, Paul O’Donnell, Joseph Bongard, Stephen DeLacy, John Burger, Stephen Paolino, Joseph Brandt, Paul Brandt, Dennis Gill, Thomas Higgins, James T. McCabe, Anthony T. Rossi, John R. Weber and Oblate Father James Dalton, Norbertine Father Joseph McLaughlin and Father John E. Donia, who was the homilist. Deacon Tom O’Brien assisted at the altar.

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