Sister Mary Finn-Bar Bartley, a native of County Cork, Ireland, died on Oct. 28, 2005, at the age of 90. Her family immigrated to Rochester when she was a small child. She entered the Sisters of Mercy from Blessed Sacrament Parish in Rochester in 1934.
Sister Bartley taught in diocesan schools for 35 years, including Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Andrew and St. John the Evangelist (Humboldt Street), all in Rochester; St. Salome in Irondequoit; Holy Family in Auburn; St. Vincent and St. Mary, both in Corning; St. John in Clyde; and St. Patrick in Owego.
Following her retirement from teaching, she studied nursing at Rochester General Hospital and served as a nurse at Highland Hospital and St. John’s Home, both in Rochester. She volunteered at Mercy High School and Mercy Motherhouse after her retirement from nursing in 1985. In her retirement she also cared for the gardens at the motherhouse grotto-shrine to Our Blessed Mother.
Sister Bartley is survived by her brothers, Bernard (Ellen) of Albion and Stephen (Ruth) of Cumming, Ga.; sisters-in-law Rosemary and Pauline Bartley; friends; and her sisters in the congregation.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Father John Mulligan in the motherhouse chapel on Oct. 31, 2005, followed by burial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 1437 Blossom Road, Rochester, NY 14610.
Tags: Religious Orders
