Posted June 25, 2026

Sister Maureen Elizabeth Sell died in Camilla Hall on June 17, 2026, having served 74 years as a Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Eleanor was born July 8, 1930, to her parents, Clarence and Elizabeth O’Brien, who raised their family of six daughters in St. Joseph Parish in Collingdale, PA. As a child Eleanor attended elementary school there, graduating from Notre Dame High School, Moylan in 1948. She was predeceased by both her parents and all five of her sisters: Mary Maio (Patrick), Elizabeth (Frank), Kathryn Hilbert (Joseph), Mildred Dougherty (Joseph) and Ann Page (Raymond). She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Entering the Immaculate Heart Sisters on September 8, 1949, Eleanor celebrated reception of her religious habit and name, Sister Maureen Elizabeth, on April 10, 1950, and profession of her final vows on August 15, 1955. In 1986 Sister completed her bachelor’s degree with a certification in Spanish from Immaculata College.

Sister Maureen Elizabeth began her ministry as an elementary school teacher in Arlington, VA at St. Thomas More School teaching second grade, and on moving back to Philadelphia, continued in the elementary grades in St. Veronica School.  However, in 1956 a major change for Sister occurred with her assignment to Miraflores, Peru to teach high school, a position in which she continued to work for five years until her change to San Antonio in Callao, Peru.  With a short return to the States, Sister taught eighth grade in St. Charles School in Cornwells Heights for a short time before moving on to teach high school at St. Peter’s in Reading. In 1964, Sister Maureen Elizabeth returned to Callao, Lima, Peru to teach high school, and then in 1970 to Santa Cruz as an administrator in Guidance at San Martin de Porras School.

In 1972, Sister was sent to direct the Spanish Apostolate in Bethlehem, PA for 10 years; then for a short period to Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield, PA and another year at St. Agnes School in West Chester for Grade 7. Her transition in 1984 took S. Maureen Elizabeth to the Diocesan Office to work in the Spanish Apostolate and live at St. Veronica Convent.  Her work in the Spanish Apostolate continued with a move to the Allentown Diocese in 1988 where she resided at Villa Maria Faculty House for 14 years. Her move to Reading in 2002 took Sister to St. Peter Parish in Reading to serve as Pastoral Minister, a ministry that she would undertake for 21 years. In 2023, Sister Maureen Elizabeth moved to Camilla Hall.

Sister Maureen Elizabeth Sell’s Funeral Liturgy was celebrated on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Rev. Martin Kern was the main celebrant and homilist. Concelebrating with Father Kern were Msgr. Robert Biszek, Rev. Edward Connolly, Rev. John Grabish, Rev. Frank Depman, Rev. John Gibbons, Rev. David Kosak and Rev. Quyet Pham.

In Sister Maureen Elizabeth Sell’s memory, a memorial donation may be sent to:

Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355