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 Thursday, January 29, 2004, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.

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, made temporary profession of her vows on August 2, 1949 and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1952.

Sister Barbara served as a teacher at the following schools: Mother of Mercy High School in Little Washington, NC; William Gaston High School in New Bern, NC; and St. Mary High School in Manhasset, NY. She also taught at Catholic high schools located in New York City, NY.

At the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA, she served on the support staff from 1971 to 1974, and as administrator from 1974 to 1977.

Sister also served as the nutritionist and coordinator of the WIC clinic at the Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale, PA, from 1980 to 2000; and as a support staff member at Our Lady of Grace Center in Manhasset, NY.

From 2000 until the time of her death, Sister Barbara was 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; two nephews, Robert Durrell of Bradford, MA, and Dennis Durrell of North 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, PA. Friends may call at the Marian Convent on Monday between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.