Obituary of Helen Marie Dumm

DUMM - Sister Helen Marie RSM, 91, member of the Dallas Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, died at Mercy Center, Dallas, on Dec. 22, 2005. Born Sept. 11, 1914, in Nicktown, daughter of the late Lewis V. and Demetria (Kirsch) Dumm. Preceded in death by stepmother, Gertrude C. Weiland; sister, Louise Dumm; and brother, Harry Dumm. Survived by brothers, Edward (Joan), Nicktown; and George (Eve), Grand Rapids, Minn.; sisters, Margaret Farabaugh (Leonard), Ebensburg; Mary Ann Weinzierl (Herman), New Germany; Grace Miller (Benjamin), Strongstown; Rose Strenko, Nicktown; Marie Krevel (Dave), Penn Run; and Theresa Yeager, Patton; sister-in-law, Theresa Dumm; and nieces and nephews. Sister earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from College Misericordia, Dallas, and a master of arts degree in education, with a specialty in braille, from Catholic University, Washington, D.C. Her teaching career spanned 48 years in the dioceses of Pittsburgh and Altoona-Johnstown. She used her braille expertise in the special education program at St. Paul's school, Butler, having taught there for 26 years. She entered the prayer ministry at McAuley Hall, Cresson, in 2000, and moved to Mercy Center, Dallas in 2003. Friends received from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday at McAuley Hall, Cresson. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Cresson. Committal, Sisters of Mercy Cemetery. Memorial contributions in the name of Sister Helen Marie Dumm may be made to the Retirement Fund, Sisters of Mercy, P.O. Box 369, Dallas, Pa. 18612. Arrangements by Charles M. Kennedy Funeral Home, Cresson.