Sister Barbara Faille (Francis Richard), (5/29/1938), beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in Bethany Health Care Center, Framingham, Mass. on August 4, 2024. Born in Fitchburg, Mass., she was the daughter of Francis J. and Doris G. (Mason) Faille.
Sister Barbara, a native of North Adams, entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Francis Parish in 1961. She was educated in the public schools of the city, earned her B.S.(Education) at North Adams State Teachers College, now MCLA, in 1959 and began her teaching career in the Greenfield Public Schools that fall. Sister has served on the college’s Alumni Association Board of Directors, and in 1986 was awarded the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
After entering the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, she received her M.A. (English) from Westfield State College, and has earned certificates in School Administration from Catholic University, in Fine Arts from Georgetown University, and in Advanced Placement (English) from Carnegie-Mellon University. Sister Barbara’s educational assignments included St. Mary High School in Westfield; Cathedral High School in Springfield, principal of Marianhill Junior Senior High School in Southbridge, and St. Joseph High School, where she was chairperson of the English Department. In 1988 the principals of Sacred Heart Elementary, Notre Dame Middle and St. Joseph High Schools established a collaborative development program for the Pittsfield Catholic Schools, appointing Sr. Barbara as Director of Development.
From 1995—2015 Sr. Barbara has served as pastoral associate at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Pittsfield, MA. There she established the parish outreach food pantry and was actively involved in ministry and programs of the parish, including RCIA. In the larger civic community Sr. Barbara served on the Board of Downeyside Homes for Youth, the Capitol Theater Advisory Committee, assisted in the founding of St. Joseph’s Kitchen, served on the 1991-1992 Police Chief Search Committee, and as a trustee of the College of Our Lady of the Elms. As a Sister of St. Joseph, Sr. Barbara was inspired by the many students and colleagues whose lives had gifted her.
In addition to her Sisters in Community, she is survived by her sister-in-law, Beverly Faille, nieces, and several cousins. Sr. was predeceased by her parents, Francis Faille and Doris (Mason) Faille as well as her brother, Richard Faille, her nephew and niece.
All services for Sr. Barbara will take place in Blessed Sacrament Church, 1945 Northampton Street, Holyoke, MA, Thursday, August 8, 2024. She will be waked from 9:00 am with a prayer service at 9:30 am. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 am. Burial will be in Mont Marie Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.