Sister John Brigid (Mary Theresa), 88, beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died on December 3, 2016 in Mont Marie Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, Holyoke, Mass. Born in Springfield, Mass., she was the daughter of John and Brigid (Dooling) Barrett.
Sister John Brigid entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from Our Lady of Hope Parish, Springfield in 1952. She attended Our Lady of Hope School and was graduated from Cathedral High School, Springfield. She earned an A.B. degree from The College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, a M.Ed. from Boston University and a Graduate Certificate in College Management from Harvard School of Business.
Among Sister’s teaching assignments were: in the Diocese of Springfield, Holy Rosary High School, Holyoke and St. Joseph High School, Pittsfield; in the Diocese of Worcester, Sacred Heart Academy; and in the Diocese of Providence, St. Catherine Academy, Newport. From 1969-1988, Sister John Brigid was the Treasurer of the College of Our Lady of the Elms. She later served as Administrative Assistant for the Council of Churches, Springfield.
In addition to her Sisters in Community, she is survived by her sister Jean McDermott of Hartford, CT. and by several nieces and nephews and their children, for whom she continues to be a source of strength, inspiration and comfort. She was predeceased by her sisters Kathleen Relihan of Springfield and Eileen Tobin of Holyoke. All services for Sr. John Brigid will take place in St. Joseph Chapel at Mont Marie on Friday, December 9, 2016. She will be waked from 9:30-11:00 a.m. with a prayer service at 10:30. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30. Burial will be in Mont Marie Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.