Sister M. Elsa Eckenrode, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

She was born on January 27, 1924, in Cresson, PA, and given the name Elizabeth Regina. She was the daughter of the late Herman and Elizabeth Effinger Eckenrode. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 7, 1943, and made her temporary profession of vows on May 8, 1946, and her final profession of vows on August 2, 1949.  Sister Elsa received a Bachelor of Science degree in English/social sciences from Marywood College.  

Sister Elsa served as a teacher in the following schools: St. Paul Elementary School in New Bern, NC, from 1946 to 1948; St. Agnes Elementary School in Washington, NC, from 1948 to 1950; Sacred Hearts Elementary School in New York, NY, from 1950 to 1958; St. Mary Elementary School in Avoca, PA, from 1958 to 1960; Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School in Inwood, NY, from 1960 to 1963; St. Patrick Elementary School in Oneida, NY, from 1963 to 1966; St. Agnes Elementary School in Lock Haven, PA, from 1966 to 1967; St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1967 to 1969; St. Mary Elementary School in Hollidaysburg, PA, from 1969 to 1977; St. Aloysius Elementary School in Cresson, PA, from 1977 to 1984; and St. Bernard Elementary School in Hastings, PA, from 1984 to 1990. 

Sister also served as an instructor at the Educational Enrichment Institute at the IHM Center in Scranton, PA, from 1990 to 2014. 

From 2014 until the time of her death, Sister Elsa was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence.

She is preceded in death by four brothers: John Joseph, William A., Alphonsus, and Michael Vernon; three stepbrothers: Joseph Earl, Francis Edward, and Robert Charles; and two sisters: Anna Mae Myers and Mary Laverne Eckenrode; and a stepsister, Mary Ruth Dobbie.

She is survived by nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and by the members of the IHM Congregation.  

Interment will be at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA. Because of restrictions related to the coronavirus, the funeral mass and graveside service are private.

Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.