Sister Bernadetta Ryan

Sister Bernadetta Ryan entered the Congregation on June 4, 1925, professing first vows on Dec. 8, 1927, and final vows on Dec. 8, 1932.

She passed away on Feb. 7, 2002, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She was 93 years old and had been a Sister of Providence for 77 years.

Originally from Connecticut, Sister Bernadetta entered the Congregation on Sacred Heart Parish in Malden, Massachusetts.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in English, and earned her master’s degree in education from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

She began her education ministry in 1928 at St. Leo in Chicago. Sister Bernadetta also taught at schools in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., as well as St. Charles in Bloomington, Indiana (1933-38); St. Joseph in Jasper, Indiana (1938-39; 1940-44); St. John in Vincennes, Indiana (1939-40); and St. Ignatius in Lafayette, Indiana (1944-45). She also ministered as principal at St. Ann in Washington, D.C., from 1965-73.

Her final ministry was as the receptionist at Immaculata in Washington, D.C., from 1985-86, before returning to the Woods.