Obituary of Sister Roberta Morrissey

MORRISSEY, Sister Roberta (Susan Patricia " Patsy?) died peacefully at Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. Sister was born in Regina in 1920. Predeceased by her parents, Margaret (Strain) and Thomas Morrissey and brothers Robert, Norman and William, Sister is survived by her sister Genevieve (Stan) Pardy and her brothers Roy (Loretta) and Father Emmett Morrissey, nephews James, Gordon, Raymond and Thomas Pardy, Thomas, Robert, Michael and Stephen Morrissey, nieces Candice Morrissey and Michele Cronin and several grand nieces and nephews, as well as the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. Patsy?, as she was known to family and friends, attended Sacred Heart School and Sacred Heart Academy in Regina. In August, 1938 she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions where she was given the religious name Sister Mary Roberta. In 1942 she began her teaching career at St. Andrews, near Moosomin and then in Regina where she taught in the Separate Schools and at Sacred Heart Academy, Sacred Heart College and Marian High School and at St Michaels Academy in Brandon, all the time improving her professional standing by continuing studies. In 1966 Sister moved into a series of leadership roles in her religious congregation including twelve years in the central government in England and Italy. On her return to Canada she took on various responsible roles in the Archdiocese of Regina, including the establishment of the Lay Ministry Program and finally serving as Director of Pastoral Services. In her religious congregation Roberta began an intensive study of the life and work of its Foundress, Euphrasie Barbier, giving courses in the many countries where the Sisters work and leaving a legacy of detailed written and audio-visual information. Loss of sight and a series of strokes finally forced Sister to abandon not only her work but even attendance at football games, though her interest in and devotion to the Riders never waned or wavered. The family and Sisters wish to thank all the staff at Santa Maria for their generous and loving care of Sister Roberta over the past two and a half years. A prayer vigil will be held in the chapel of Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home, 4215 Regina Avenue at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 17, 2008, Sister Melvina Hruska presiding. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, February 18 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Cathedral, 3125- 13th Avenue with Very Rev. A. Dizy presiding. Interment will take place on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, friends may wish to send donations to the Mission Fund of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, 310 Provencher Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R2H 0G7. An online book of condolences may be signed at www.speersfuneralchapel.com