Sr. Maria Clemencia, better known as “Sister Clem” to her sisters and her many friends in Lansdale, passed away at home on June 3. She was 104 years old and in the 79th year of her religious profession.
Born in the Philippines in 1908, Sr. Clem entered the Religious of the Assumption in 1929 and began a religious life that would take a little girl from Alimodian, a village in the Visayas region, to Belgium, Lourdes, the Canary Islands and Madrid, and finally to the United States, where she arrived in Miami in 1946. She had confessed to the Mother General that she was very frightened of going to the U.S., but she came anyway, beginning a beautiful relationship with this country and its people that lasted for 67 years.
Eventually, after stints in Miami and Philadelphia (at Ravenhill Academy), she was posted to Lansdale, or more properly, to Saint Stanislaus parish, where she made many friends for herself and the Assumption Sisters by her kindness, her cookies, her sewing, her love of flowers, and her sense of humor. Speaking in the accents of her native country, Sister Clem could always make herself understood. She accomplished that by remembering the names and stories of the hundreds of people who sat at her kitchen table for more than thirty years. She did it by praying for them and their families and all their situations. She did it by taking great joy in life and radiating that joy to all those around her.
She is survived by nephews and nieces in the Philippines and by her religious community. Her Assumption Sisters want to thank all of her friends and her many care-givers for their kindness to and care of Sister Clem during these last several years. We thank the North Penn VNA Hospice most especially for everything they did to make her days comfortable.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to AMA, the Sisters’ program for lay volunteers, or to the North Penn VNA Hospice, would be appreciated. Sisters viewing will be held Wednesday Evening, June 5, 2013 from 7 to 9 PM at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 51 Lansdale Ave, Lansdale, PA. 19446. An additional viewing will be held Thursday Morning, June 6, 2013 from 10 to 10:45 also at St. Stanislaus Church, followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken. Arrangements are by Simcox-McIlvaine Funeral Home in Lansdale.
Sr.Mary Clemencia, our ever dearest auntie and Nanay Coning, will always be remembered in our hearts. Her last visit here the Philippines was a very meaningful experience, being with all her nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren… she left with us good memories in her short stay with us here in Cagayan de Oro…we remember how she loved to hear the children’s laughter while they were playing, appreciating our having a big family, she also loved picking flowers and leaves from the garden and arranged in a vase so we can always see fresh flowers in our table…she also liked to be in the kitchen as she enjoyed much cooking, cleaning, doing a lot even at age 88…she knew she wont be able fo make it again to travel so she visited a lot of her relatives, leaving cards with her dedication for a good and prayerful life… truly the memories she left will always make us feel she continued to live with us, her blessing to our family was well appreciated….. We are thankful to the Sisters and all her friends for taking care of our dear Auntie Sr Clem till the last…..from the Alonsabe family of Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines… Jose, Olga, Marie Emerald, Ruby, Jade, Diamond, Jasper,and Gold…and so with Celoy, Gines, Adams…. Babies Jhett and Elrich….
I would like to extend my condolences and prayers to all the people who became part of Sr. Clemencia’s life. Wherever she may be, may memories of her enlighten and inspire us as we continue our own journey in life.
Sr. Clem, you will always remain in our hearts. Thank you for the letters, phone calls, and prayers. We LOVE you very much!
From your relatives in the Philippines 😀
In 1965, Sr. made my First Communion dress. I still treasure it. It was beautiful. I was a student at Assumption Bay Haven from 1965-1974. We the alumni of Bay Haven have many memories of Sr and they are often shared at our reunions.