Sister Mary Nathan Doherty, 81, a Sister of Mercy and a retired educator and administrator, passed away Sunday, May 24th at Mount St. Rita Health Centre.
Born Frances Isabel Doherty in East Providence, she was the daughter of the late Louis F. and Sarah Isabel (Robertson) Doherty. She was the stepdaughter of the late Florence Doherty. She entered the Sisters of Mercy on September 8, 1945 and professed her vows on August 16, 1951.
Sister was a 1945 graduate of St. Mary Academy-Bay View. She earned a B.S. in Ed. from the former Catholic Teachers College, Providence and an MA from Rhode Island College. During her 48 years of ministry in the Diocese of Fall River, she served as Principal of St. John Baptist School, New Bedford, 1966-68; and Holy Family/Holy Name School, New Bedford, 1973-75 and 1978-1989. Sister retired in 1996.
In addition to her religious family, the Sisters of Mercy, she leaves a sister, Hope McDowell of Warwick and nieces and nephews.
She was the sister of the late James W. Doherty and L. Carol Saunders.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 27th at 11 am in Mount St. Rita Chapel. Burial will follow in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 26th from 4-7pm in Mount St. Rita Chapel with a Mercy Prayer Service at 5:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Sister's memory to Mount St. Rita Health Centre, 15 Sumner Brown Rd., Cumberland, RI 02864 will be deeply appreciated.