Sister M. Regina Barrett, IHM
Sister M. Regina Barrett, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, July 13, 2008 at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on November 30, 1925 in Scranton, PA, and given the name Margaret. She was the daughter of the late James and Aloise O’Neill Barrett. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1944, made her temporary profession of vows on August 2, 1946, and her final profession of vows on August 2, 1949.
Sister Regina served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Joseph Elementary School in Williamsport, PA, from 1952 to 1957; St. John Elementary School in Pittston, PA, from 1957 to 1961; St. Raymond Elementary School in East Rockaway, NY, from 1961 to 1967; Little Flower Elementary School in Bethesda, MD, from 1967 to 1969; and at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA, from 1969 to 1971.
Sister Regina was the Director of the Early Childhood Center at Marywood College from 1971 to 1995; and she served on the faculty in the Education Department at Marywood from 1971 to 1998.
She also served as a cathetical instructor at St. Patrick Parish in Milford from 1946 to 1952; and as an instructor at the IHM Educational Enrichment Institute in Scranton, PA, from 1998 to 2003.
From 2003 until the time of her death, Sister Regina was a prayer minister at the Marian Convent and Our Lady of Peace Residence, both in Scranton.
She received a bachelor of arts degree in education from Marywood College, and a master of education degree in psychology of reading from Temple University.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Louis R., and a sister, Mary Aloise Barrett McNulty.
She is survived by nephews and nieces, and her lifelong friend, Patricia Leamy, of Lake Ariel, PA. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.
The funeral will be Wednesday, July 16, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Tuesday, July 15, between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Interment will follow the funeral on Wednesday, July 16 at St. Catherine's Cemetery in Moscow, PA.
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.
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Fall 2008 issue
I am very happy and honored to be able to write about my wonderful friend of many years, Sister Regina. Regina was an unusual person, very creative, talented, generous, sensitive and prayerful. To know her was to love her. Her spirit was remarkable and was easily captured by those around her.
You realized her love for her family, community, friends, and students, because, in her remarkable way, she was involved with all. She was deeply concerned for her family, interested in every event of their lives, and always showing her love and concern.
Her students, from the children in the Early Childhood Center, to those in Marywood University, experienced her love and her exceptional teaching. Her friends also enjoyed her great spirit and her love of community.
I, personally, enjoyed many exciting and heartfelt moments with Regina. Her creativity and her generosity never ceased to amaze me. Throughout the years, we celebrated many happy occasions together, for which I am deeply grateful.
My dear friend is missed, and will be greatly missed for a long, long time.
by Sr. Mary Joan Kelleher, IHM
