Sister Juanita Barto, R.S.M., a Sister of Mercy of the Americas Mid-Atlantic Community for 62 years, died May 2, at the Sisters of Mercy Convent, Whitestone. She was 79.
Born Loretta Barto in Bay Shore, L.I., she attended St. Patrick’s School, Bay Shore, and Seton Hall H.S., Patchogue, L.I.
She entered the Sisters of Mercy Novitiate, Syosset, L.I, on Feb. 2, 1952 and professed her final vows on Sept. 4, 1957.
She taught in Holy Rosary School, Bedford Stuyvesant, 1954-56; St. Thomas Aquinas, Flatlands, 1956-57; Sacred Heart, Adelphi Street, Fort Greene, 1957-60; St. Agatha, Sunset Park, 1960-61; Queen of Angels, Sunnyside, 1961-63; St. Mary’s, Roslyn, L.I., 1963-66; Mater Christi H.S., Astoria, 1966-68; and Holy Trinity H.S., Hicksville, L.I., 1968-88.
She was assistant manager of Seton Residence, Amityville, L.I., where she also worked for the Sisters of St. Dominic in the finance office.
She is survived by five sisters, Janice Watson, Norma Young, Marie Di Giovanni, Frances Majdecki and Judith Sinnott and one brother George Barto.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Sisters of Mercy Convent, Whitestone. Burial was in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Bay Shore.