Sister Barbara Sweet, IHM

Sister Barbara Sweet, IHM (formerly known as Sister M. Athanasius) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on January 29, 2004 at the Marian Convent in Scranton.

She was born on  July 15, 1927 in Providence, RI, and given the name Barbara Doris.She was the daughter of the late Herbert and Mary Elizabeth Walsh Sweet. She entered the IHM Congregation on August 30, 1946 and made her temporary profession of vows on August 2, 1949 and her final profession of vows on August 2, 1952.

Sister Barbara served as a teacher at schools: Mother of Mercy High Schoo in Little Washington, NC; William Gaston High Schoo in New Bern, NC; St. Mary High School in Manhasset, NY; as well as at high schools located in New York City, PA.

Sister also served on the support staff of the Marian Convent, from 1971 to 1974; administrator of the Marian Convent, from 1974 to 1977; nutritionist and coordinator of the WIC clinic at the Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale, from 1980 to 2000; and staff member at Our Lady of Grace Center in  Manhasset, NY.

From 2000 until the time of her death, she served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Marywood College, and a Master of Arts degree in foods and nutrition from New York University.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Vernon and Allen; and two sisters, Irma Draper and Virginia Durrell.

She is survived by a sister, Ursula McElroy of Greenwich, RI; and two nephews, Robert Durrell of Bradford, MA; and Dennis Durrell of N. Kingston, RI; and many cousins.

The funeral will be Tuesday, February 3 at 9:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at the Marian Convent followed by interment at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow.  Friends may call at the Marian Convent on Monday, February 2 between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.