Compiled
by
Angela Arrington
Sister Nicola Maria DiBlasio
Sister Nicola Maria DiBlasio, I.H.M., formerly known as Catherine DiBlasio,
died on March 16, 2008 at Camilla Hall, Immaculata. She was 67. Born in
Norristown, she served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for 38 years,
teaching on the elementary and secondary levels. Her last assignment was
at West Catholic High School, where she served for five years. She also
taught in the Diocese of Allentown.
She is predeceased by a brother, Sal. A funeral Mass was celebrated on
March 19, 2008 at Camilla Hall with burial at Immaculata. She is survived
by nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins and members of
her religious community.
Mary O. Meehan
Mary O. Meehan died March 23, 2008 at St. Mary’s Manor in Lansdale.
She is the daughter of the late Benedicta and Col. Edward Meehan. She
attended St. Madeleine Sophie Parish School from 1928 to 1936 and John
W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School from 1936 to 1938, and graduated
from Mercy Academy in 1940. She attended the Pierce Business School from
1940 to 1941. She then worked as executive secretary for the Philadelphia
Gas Works for 34 years. She was an extraordinary minister of holy Communion
for St. Mary’s Manor and a local supporter of the Legion of Mary,
the Society for the Propagation of Faith and the Miraculous Medal Societies.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Edward, and sister, Agnes Meehan.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on March 29, 2008 at St. Mary Manor, Lansdale.
She is survived by three nieces and a nephew; 16 great nieces and nephews,
and 18 great-great nieces and nephews.
Sister Mary Margaret Frederick
Sister Mary Margaret Frederick, I.H.M., formerly Sister Sponsa Christi,
died on March 23, 2008 at Camilla Hall, Immaculata. She was 75. Born in
Philadelphia, during her years of ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
she served for 47 years on the elementary level in teaching and administrative
posts. Her last assignment was at Holy Innocents School. She also served
in the dioceses of Miami, Fla.; Trenton, N.J., and Harrisburg. A funeral
Mass was celebrated March 26, 2008 at Camilla Hall, with burial at Immaculata.
She is survived by two brothers, William and Robert; a sister, Marcella;
nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and by members of her congregation.
Sister Clara Regina Chambers
Sister Clara Regina Chambers, I.H.M., formerly Catherine V. Chambers,
died on March 24, 2008 at Camilla Hall, Immaculata. She was 97. Born in
Philadelphia, during her years of ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia,
Sister Clare Regina served in elementary and secondary education. Her
last assignment was at St. Maria Goretti High School, where she taught
for 14 years. She also served in the Diocese of Allentown. She was predeceased
by six brothers, Father Gerard Chambers, George, John, Leo, Edward, and
Francis, and four sisters, Clare, Margaret, Mary and Rose. A funeral Mass
was celebrated March 28, 2008 at Camilla Hall. Burial was at Immaculata.
She is survived by many nieces and nephews, and by members of her congregation.
Helen R. McCabe
Helen R. McCabe died on Tuesday, April 1, 2008. She is survived by her
son, Father James T. McCabe; four daughters; three other sons; her grandson,
Father Christopher B. Rogers, and 23 additional grandchildren. A funeral
Mass was held on Saturday April 5, 2008 at St. Monica Church, Philadelphia.
Robert F. Steiner
Robert F. Steiner died on April 2, 2008 at his home. He was 62.
Born in Philadelphia Jan. 27, 1946, he was the son of the late Charles
and Mary Kober Steiner. He was a 1964 graduate of Northeast Catholic High
School and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was a credit manager for Reliable
Tire Co. in Blackwood, N.J., for 28 years, an avid Pittsburgh Steelers
fan, and enjoyed model railroading. A funeral Mass was celebrated at Our
Lady of Peace Catholic Church, Milmont Park. He is survived by his wife,
Maryann (formely Umstetter) Steiner; daughter, Karen McMurrough; son,
Robert Steiner, and his sister, Mary Agnes O’Toole.
Esther C. Desmond
Esther C. Desmond died on April 8, 2008 at Bryn Mawr Hospital. Born in
Philadelphia on Dec. 29, 1925 she was the daughter of the late Norbert
and Esther Kelly Considine. She was an alumna of the Country Day School
of the Sacred Heart. In 1952, she married Peter H. Desmond Jr. and settled
in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she worked as an executive for the Sears &
Roebuck company. She returned to the Philadelphia area after the death
of her husband in 1976, and began a 20-year career as a volunteer at Bryn
Mawr Hospital. She was predeceased her sister, Ruth C. Sweetser; brothers
Norbert A. Considine Jr., John Considine and William Considine; two nephews,
and a niece. She is survived by her aunt, Elizabeth Considine McManus,
and her sisters-in-law, Margaret Burlee Considine and Maureen Newman Considine.
She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. A funeral Mass was celebrated
on April 11, 2008 at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, Bryn Mawr. Interment
was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.