Sister Susan Barry, OSU, died peacefully May 2, 2022, at St. Andrew’s at Francis Place in Eureka, Missouri. Eighty years old at the time of her death, she ministered in California for more than 20 years, primarily in the San Jose diocese.
The daughter of Eugene Joseph and Helen Koch Barry, she was born Feb. 13, 1942, in San Francisco. She entered the Ursuline community on July 19, 1961, and professed her vows on Jan. 20, 1964. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of New Rochelle and a master’s degree in private education administration from the University of San Francisco.
She taught primary grades at Ursuline Academy in New Orleans from 1966-71, religion at St. Patrick School in Galveston, Texas, from 1971-74, and primary grades at St. Aloysius School in Springfield from 1977-78. She was principal of St. Patrick’s in Galveston from 1974-77.
In 1979 Sister Susan transferred to the Ursulines’ Western Province, where she continued her education ministry, serving as principal of St. John Elementary School in San Francisco, principal of Holy Trinity School in San Jose, and assistant principal of St. Leo the Great Elementary School in San Jose. In the early 1990s, she was named “Principal of the Year” in a four-state region of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).
She returned to the Ursulines’ Central Province in 2014 and lived in Alton, Illinois, until she moved to Francis Place in 2019.
Sister Susan is survived by three sisters: Maureen Barry Sutton, Dianne Barry and Debby Barry.
A graveside prayer service and burial were held May 9 at St. Peter Cemetery in Kirkwood, Missouri. A memorial Mass is planned for June.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Ursuline Sisters Retirement Fund, 353 S. Sappington Road, St. Louis, MO 63122.