Sr. Margaret Rita Bergin

Born in New York City on December 29, 1931, Catherine was the daughter of Michael and Margaret Sharkey Bergin. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on February 2, 1950, and received the name Sister Margaret Rita. She professed her first vows in 1951 and final vows in 1956.

Sister Margaret Rita received her BS in Education from Fordham University, NYC, in 1958, and an MS in Media from Lehman College, Bronx, NY, in 1975.

Sister Margaret Rita’s ministries included St. Martin of Tours School, Bronx, NY (1951-1953); St. Catherine of Siena School, NYC (1953-1957); St. Teresa School, Woodside, NY (1957-1959); St. Columba School, Chester, NY (1959-1965). From 1965 to 1973, Sister Margaret served as pastoral minister, principal of the Dominican Convent School, and Coordinator of Adult Education in the Diocese of Multan, Pakistan. Upon returning to the United States, she taught at St. Brendan School in the Bronx, NY (1973-1975); served as A/V Instructor at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY (1975-1977); and was Msgr. Scanlan HS, Bronx, NY (1977-1998); and secretary at Iona College (1998-1999) and Iona Prep (1999-2012).

Sister Margaret Rita was predeceased by her parents, Michael and Margaret Sharkey Bergin, her sister, Sister Maureen Michael Bergin, OP (a Dominican Sister of the Sick Poor), and her brother, Michael. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Sylvia Bergin; niece, Maureen; and nephews, Kevin and Keith Bergin.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel, Sparkill, NY on Monday, October 6 at 11:00AM a.m. Visitation is Monday, October 6, 2025 from 9:30 to 10:30am at Dominican Convent, 175 Route 340, Sparkill, NY. Mass will be celebrated at 11:00AM. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery. Arrangements are by Higgins Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Dominican Sisters at the above address, attention – Sr. Irene Ellis, Prioress.