Sr. Patricia Barrett, FMM

Sr. Patricia or ‘Sr. Pat’ as she was known was born to Irish parents in Brooklyn, New York on May 31, 1938. She entered the FMM in March of 1958, at Fruit Hill, North Providence, RI and made her temporary profession in September,1960. Her final profession was made in September,1963. Both ceremonies were in Holy Family Chapel at Fruit Hill.

After some college studies in Boston, Sr. Pat was missioned to be a Group Mother at McMahon Shelter, NYC and later a Montessori teacher at our Bell Street convent, in RI. In 1964, Sr. Pat was missioned to Holy Family Convent at Fruit Hill to be a nursing student receiving her LPN license in January,1966. After completing her studies as a licensed practical nurse, she served as a nurse in McMahon Shelter. In late December of 1967 Sr. Pat was missioned to Rome and then to Bizana, South Africa where she was a practical nurse at St. Patrick’s. Later her mission was Durban, Our Lady of Peace Hospital where she studied to be an RN and received her license in November,1969, also studying midwifery and worked there until 1980. She was then missioned to Weenen Natal Hospital where she was a matron in the clinic.

1983 brought her back to New York where she prepared to be Directress of Pre-Novices and worked in this role from 1985 to July 1991. Then Sr. Pat became a student once more studying Counseling directed to Drug and Alcoholic Rehabilitation in Oakland, California continuing her ministry to drug addicts and alcoholics in San Francisco. Sr. Pat was then missioned to Tampa, Florida where she counseled homeless women and children housed by the Salvation Army and also worked as a Guidance Counselor in a Catholic Elementary School and later as Directness of Wellness Clinic at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Boston while serving the province as a Provincial Councilor.

Sr. Pat was later missioned to St. Francis Hospital Community where she served as Community Coordinator and became a valued member of the St. Francis Hospital Foundation Board. Sr. Pat had a kind and generous nature and loved taking care of people. When her health began to decline, she was missioned to the FMM Assisted Living Residence at Fruit Hill in 2022 and in 2024 requiring a higher level of care she transferred to Ein Karim Community in residence at St. Antoine’s, North Smithfield, RI. Sr. Pat was called to her eternal reward on February 11, 2026. May she rest in peace.

Visitation for Sr. Pat will be held Thursday, February 19th, 2026 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, 399 Fruit Hill Ave, North Providence, RI 02911. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 20th, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Missionary. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland.