Sister Patricia Scanlan, a member of the Carmelite Sisters of Baltimore for more than 70 years who cared for the ill, died Jan. 19 at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. She was 92.
“Sister Patricia was extremely kind and caring and was always open and welcoming to everyone,” said Sister Judy Long, a member of the order since 1999. “She had a lovely smile that drew you in.”
Patricia Ann Scanlan, daughter of Francis Henry Scanlan, and his wife, Jean Beine Hewitt Scanlan, was born and raised in Philadelphia, where she attended grade school at St. Francis of Assisi.

After graduating from Mount St. Joseph Academy in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, she attended nursing school at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Pennsylvania.
In 1950, Sister Patricia entered the Carmelite Monastery at Caroline and Biddle streets in 1950, and professed her vows two years later.
In 1961, she joined her sisters at their new monastery on Dulaney Valley Road in Timonium.
“Sister Patricia’s major work in the community for many years was being infirmarian,” wrote Sister Colette Hackerman, in a biographical profile of Sister Patricia.
“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,” she wrote. “Sister Patricia had a grace-filled gift of service and how to attend to others.”
“She taught the sisters how to care for people,” Sister Judy said.
Sister Patricia served as the community’s prioress from 1973 to 1979, and again from 1982 to 1989, where she earned acclaim for her “wise leadership and had a great influence” on her order, Sister Colette wrote.
Sister Patricia also served on the leadership team of the Carmelite Communities Associated and had been a coordinator for a team.
Later in life, she was involved with maintenance issues and was part of the team that oversaw the major renovation of the monastery chapel and east wing that was completed in time for the order’s bicentennial in 1990.
“She was a very holy woman,” Sister Judy said in an interview. “Jesus was the crux of her life, and she shared that with everyone, and in doing so, served Jesus.”
“Another of her major contributions to community life was her gift with liturgy planning,” Sister Colette wrote. “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 was also the nucleus of her family of nieces and nephews,” Sister Judy said.
She enjoyed attending her nursing school reunions, which was “very important to her,” Sister Judy said.
An alto, she sang in her community’s choir, and also liked swimming and playing the violin.
“She was in the unit of the School Sisters of Notre Dame at Stella Maris, and they gave her such good care,” Sister Judy said. “Sister Patricia will be sorely missed in the community because she was much-loved and a genuine spirit.”
A Funeral Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. today in the monastery chapel, 1318 Dulaney Valley Road, Timonium.
She is survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Have a news tip? Frederick N. Rasmussen at frasmussen@baltsun.com and 410-332-6536.