Sister Mary Patricia O’Connell, R.S.M., a Sister of Mercy for 58 years, died April 18. She was 76.
Formerly known as Sister Mary Columba, she was born in Brooklyn and attended St. Thomas Aquinas School, Flatlands, and Mercy Juniorate H.S., Fort Greene.
She taught at St. Brigid School, Bushwick, 1961-63; St. Edward Confessor, Syosset, L.I., 1963- 67; and St. Pius X, Plainview, 1967-71.
For the next 46 years, she served as teacher, coach, CYO board member, parish and community choir member at Our Lady of Mercy, Hicksville, and volunteered at the Community Retreat House in Water Mill, L.I.
She is survived by her brother, Gerry O’Connell and his wife, Louise.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Hicksville, L.I.
Burial followed in St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, L.I.
I remember Sr. when she was teaching at St.?Edward’s, Syosset when I was in elementary school there. We liked her so much and she loved singing and music and I still recall the words of the songs she taught us for St. Patrick’s Day and Soring Concetts. She used to play softball with us kids in the seventh and eighth grade and I remember her running the bases with her veil pushed back. They wore the habit then. She was always a lot of fun with us kids, we loved her class and were so happy we had one of the “young” nuns. Wish I’d known she was one town over in Hicksville, I would have said hello. Will never forget her.