Sister Ann Berendes, IHM

“She loves to have fun.”

Ann Catherine Berendes was born on Long Island in January 1936. She was the youngest child of Joseph and Anna Berendes. Her father was a math wiz and went to both high school and college at the Cooper Union School (which focused on architectural studies). In addition to math, an architect needs artistic skills to sketch out what a building will look like. Mr. Berendes used his artistic skills for work, but he was quite an artist in his own right. Anna Berendes stayed at home – which meant she supported her husband, cared for the children, and was a “School Mom” as well as being active in her church!

Ann didn’t know her sister, Eileen (Sister Benedicta) well. They were eight years apart. After school, Eileen practiced the piano. And Ann was only in 4th grade when Eileen entered the IHMs. But Ann did come to Marywood to visit, meeting other sisters and attending her sister’s first profession. Visiting her sister at her local convents also meant meeting her community. Finally, during her high school years, she sat in the convent chapel during the December 8th feast while the sisters went to lunch –allowing her to listen in as the sisters happily conversed at lunch.

However, Ann did have a brother, Jack, who was six years older and took very seriously the role of big brother. This included times when he was serving in the military and his home visits always included time for Ann.

After high school, Ann didn’t believe she had a vocation. She worked in a music store for two years and was planning on marriage. Though she was surprised at the thought that she had an IHM Vocation – I reflected on her many IHM experiences – including her 12 year attendance at St. Mary’s School in Manhasset. As a music student, she studied piano with two very talented IHM musicians – Sister Edith in grade school and Sister Susan McMenamin (who put on incredible concerts!) in high school. When Ann finally entered, Sister Susan was her sponsor. Coincidence? Maybe for Ann, but not for those of us who knew her “IHM experiences stories.”

Ann has degrees in education and English and a certification in music. Her teaching varied from junior high with music to junior high with English to returning to Marywood as a student in 1986 and a last teaching assignment at Our Lady of Peace Elementary School in Clarks Green. Ann taught from 1958 to 2001, but her favorite assignment was her first one in New Bern, N.C., because of the local community and the support from the parents. And, like many IHMs, her teaching began in 1958 but she didn’t graduate from Marywood until 1967.

By 2001, Ann knew it was time to move on and she pursued a sabbatical at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. It was there that this NY native experienced 9/11 – consoled by other participants. From there, Ann’s ministries were diverse. She moved to Palm Coast in Florida, ministering to the bereaved and homebound. Then, she returned to NY – Center Moriches – doing the same ministry until she became the senior minister.

In 2022, Ann returned to the IHM Center as a support staff member and as an ESL instructor.

She has recently moved to OLP. She lives in one of the 4th floor independent living households.

How would Ann like to be remembered? “I love to have fun!” Then, I remembered recently being teamed up with Ann to play horseshoes with the eighth grade students from Our Lady of Peace in Clarks Green. And yes, we definitely had fun!