Sister Patricia Ann Scanlan, OCD

Sister Patricia of Jesus, OCD (Patricia Ann Scanlan) died on Sunday, January 19 at Stella Maris, in the Unit of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. She was 92 years old and had been a member of the Carmelite Sisters of Baltimore for 74 years. Sister Patricia entered the monastery in 1950, when it was located at Caroline and Biddle Streets in Baltimore City. She moved with the community to Dulaney Valley Road in 1961. Sister Patricia was born in Philadelphia, PA on August 29, 1932. Her parents were Jean Beine Hewitt Scanlan and Francis Henry Scanlan. Her maternal grandparents were from Philadelphia, PA and her paternal grandparents from Shenandoah, PA. She had one sister, Jean Marie. Her education included Catholic grade school, St. Francis of Assisi, high school at Mt. St. Joseph Academy, Chestnut Hill, PA, and one year of nursing school at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital in Darby, PA. Sister Patricia entered the Carmelite Monastery in Baltimore on September 5, 1950. She professed her vows on April 26, 1952. Sister Patricia’s major work in the community for many years was being Infirmarian. She was not only skilled in care of the sick but was also attentive to the many emotional and psychological needs of her sister-patients. Sister Patricia had a grace-filled gift of service and “how to attend to others.” She was prioress of the community from 1973-1979 and 1982-1989; her wise leadership had a great influence on what Baltimore Carmel is today. Sister Patricia also served on the leadership team of our Carmelite Association (Carmelite Communities Associated) and was the Coordinator of the Association for one term. Later on in her life she helped with maintenance issues and was a team member for the major renovation of the monastery chapel and east wing at the time of our bicentennial in 1990. Another of her major contributions to community life was her gift with liturgy planning. She always brought great insight and an artistic sense to whatever was needed for a special celebration, a funeral, or a seasonal Mass. Sister Patricia also had an innate gift for spiritual direction and accompaniment. Numerous people---priests, sisters and lay people---turned to her for guidance and support. Sister Patricia was preceded in death by her sister, Jean Marie Manderbach, and is survived by many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. A Prayer Service will take place on Friday, January 31 at 3:00 PM in the monastery chapel, followed by visitation until 4:30. Her Funeral Mass will be on Saturday morning, February 1 at 11:00 AM, at the monastery chapel, 1318 Dulaney Valley Road.

Sister Patricia Ann Scanlan, OCD

August 29, 1932 - January 19, 2025