The chapel at Marymount Convent was full of people, music and fond memories of Sister Bernadette Donaghy during a morning mass in her honor. At the age of 93 Sister Bernadette was granted the “fullness of life” and as Father Quinn noted during his homily, “Sister Bernadette was an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.”
Her familiar face, steadfast courage and confidence will be missed by many in the Tarrytown’s and yet there is no lasting sorrow when one thinks of how admirably she lived her life.
Born in Ireland on December 1, 1919 she was the seventh of nine children. There were five brothers and four sisters in her family and by her own account it was a very happy family. In 1946 she entered her religious life in Paris, France and shortly thereafter came to Tarrytown, New York where she was an educator and nurse. At her wake a plaque from Phelps Memorial Hospital greeted everyone. It was for twenty-six years of Dedicated Service as a nurse and volunteer chaplain. CEO and President, Keith Safian had signed the plaque and recently commented, “Sister Bernadette made the world a better place.”
