Sister Mary M. Barnea (formerly Sister M Anthony), 84 a Sister of Mercy for 66 years died Sun., June13th after a brief illness. A native of Manchester, NH she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Margaret (Ellis) Barnea.
Sister Mary earned her B.A and M.A. degrees in education from Mount Saint Mary College, Hooksett, NH. For 28 years, she was a dedicated teacher in Catholic elementary and high schools in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In New Hampshire, she taught at St. Joseph School in Keene; St. Peter School in Concord; Blessed Sacrament School in Manchester; and Sacred Heart School in Hampton, where she served as principal. She also taught English at Trinity High School in Manchester. In Massachusetts, Sister Mary taught at St. Mary, Star of the Sea School in East Boston.
In 1974, Sister Mary went as a missionary to Catholic Hill in Ritter, South Carolina, where she began 18 years of parish ministry at St. James Church. Sister Mary served the people of the area by conducting religious education programs and recreational activities. She also founded and directed the St. James Youth Gospel Choir.
When she returned to NH in 1992, Sister Mary volunteered at the Barron School in Salem and was office assistant in the New Hampshire Community’s Development Office in Nashua. She also volunteered at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua.
Family members include nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Friends may call at the Warde Health Center, 21 Searles Road, Windham, NH from 9:30 AM to 11AM on Friday, June 18th. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Our Lady of Mercy Chapel in Windham at 11am.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 21 Searles Road. PO Box 420,Windham, NH 03087-0420.
Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Bedford, NH