Aston, PA — Sister Mary Elizabeth O’Hanlon, OSF (formerly Sister Corintha), died in Assisi House on September 4. She was eighty-six years of age and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for sixty-four years. Sister Mary Elizabeth was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, but later moved to Philadelphia where she was a member of St. Columba Parish and graduated from Hallahan High School. Prior to her entrance into the congregation in 1940, she worked as a typist/file clerk for Tompkins Label Service in Philadelphia. She later earned a B.S. in Secondary Education and an M.A. in English, both from Villanova University, and an M.A. in Guidance and Counseling from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Although she taught elementary school for a short time, Sister Corintha ministered primarily in secondary education, teaching business and English and serving as a Guidance Counselor and a school administrator. She had been involved with numerous professional organization both for English teachers and for guidance counselors. At one point she served as co-editor of the newsletter for the Greater Philadelphia Council of Teachers of English and as president of the Delaware County Counselors Association. She enjoyed crocheting, word puzzles (especially cryptograms and crossword puzzles), and jigsaw puzzles. An avid newspaper reader, she enjoyed keeping up with the daily news.
Sister Mary Elizabeth began her career in education in Philadelphia and ministered in the archdiocese for fifty-two years. She taught sixth grade at St. Benedict School (1941-1943). From 1943-1946 she taught business at her alma mater, Hallahan High School. She taught English at St. Hubert High School from 1949-1953 and returned there as guidance counselor from 1988-1998. She also ministered at Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield from 1963-1974—first as chairperson of the English Department and then as Guidance Director. From 1974-1988 she served as vice principal of Archbishop Ryan High School. From 1998-2000 Sister Mary Elizabeth volunteered at St. George Parish, both in the school and in parish ministry. In 2000 she moved to Assisi House in Aston where she served in prayer ministry until her death.
Sister Mary Elizabeth served for ten years in the Archdiocese of Boston, serving as both teacher and principal at Holy Trinity High School in Roxbury (1953-1963).
