Sister Roberta Mulcahy, 83, beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, formerly known as Sister Francis Julia died in Holyoke, MA on Sunday, December 17, 2017. A native of Springfield, Mass. she was the daughter of Francis J. and Julia M. (Bauchiero) Mulcahy.
Sister Roberta entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Michael’s Cathedral Parish, Springfield in 1952. She graduated from Cathedral High School in Springfield. Sister Roberta earned a B.A. degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee and an M.A. degree in pastoral ministry from Emmanuel College, Boston.
Sister Roberta taught at Holy Name and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Schools in Springfield, and served as principal of St. Mary School in Milford. She served as a Consultant in Early Childhood Education for Mont Marie Child Care Center. She also ministered for many years in the Spanish Apostolate in Holyoke in pastoral work and religious education, as a teacher of homeless children in Falmouth and in Greenhouse Management at New Alchemy Institute, Falmouth. She served on the Congregation’s Vocation Team, as Coordinator of the SSJ Justice and Peace Office and in Congregational Administration on the SSJ Leadership Team. Sr. Roberta found great joy in her passion for Earth Justice Ministry as a coordinator of the SSJ Ecology Committee.
In addition to her Sisters in community, Sr. Roberta is survived by her brothers Thomas and his wife Dianne and Francis Mulcahy and several generations of loving nieces and nephews. The Sisters of St. Joseph are grateful for the exceptional care Sr. Roberta received from Miriam Najimy, DHM, the Daughters of the Heart of Mary as well as Mercy Hospice Care.
Services for Sr. Roberta will take place in St. Joseph Chapel at Mont Marie in Holyoke on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. She will be waked from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with a prayer service at 10:00 a.m. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. A private, green burial will take place in Mont Marie Cemetery on Tuesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.