Sister Mary Patricia Winters, D.C.

EMMITSBURG, MD ~ May 12, 2008

A Mass of Christian burial was offered at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 10, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton for Sister Mary Patricia Winters, DC. Sister died Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at Villa St. Michael, the province’s retirement residence in Emmitsburg. She was 73 years of age and 52 years of vocation.

Mary Patricia Winters was born in Baltimore, Maryland, one of three children of John Edward and Mildred Elizabeth Glenn Winters. She lived in Saint William of York Parish in west Baltimore and graduated from Seton High School in 1952.

Mary Patricia entered the community of the Daughters of Charity in 1956. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Saint Joseph College in Emmitsburg in 1959, and her master’s degree in nursing in 1970 from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

After completing the seminary [novitiate] in 1958, Sister Mary Patricia was sent to Saint Mary’s Hospital in Troy, New York where, after six month’s experience as staff nurse, she became supervisor of a medical-surgical nursing unit. In 1961, she was missioned to Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland, Maryland and served as director of nursing for two of the three years she was there.

Sister’s next assignment was to U.S. Soldiers’ Home and Hospital in Washington, D.C. in 1964. It was during this time that she began her studies at Catholic University for her master’s degree in nursing. After graduation in 1970, Providence Hospital served as an interim mission before Sister was re-missioned to the faculty of Saint Joseph College in Emmitsburg. When the college closed in 1973, Sister moved to DePaul Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia and served briefly as director of staff development before taking on the role of director of nursing service.

Upon completion of six years in this duty Sister was sent to Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland in 1980 to serve as director of education. After eleven months in this duty she was asked to go to Saint Vincent’s Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida to be vice-president of nursing. Sister Mary Patricia spent seven years in this duty (1981-1988).

From 1988-1993 Sister was director of pastoral care at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. She also served as local superior during this time. Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland, Maryland was Sister’s next mission where she served as vice-president of mission services. In 1995, her duty was changed to director of pastoral care while also serving as local superior.

In early 2000, Sister began to experience health problems. During her recuperative period, she continued to work as a docent at the Seton Shrine. In 2002, she was appointed the duty of assistant to the local superior of Villa St. Michael and remained in this duty until the time of her death.

Sister Mary Patricia will be remembered for her prayerful, compassionate and caring manner manifested in the way she lived her vocation. Always available, whatever the need, she gave of herself wholeheartedly and willingly, her kindness and generosity knew no bounds.

She was a member of the American Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau.

Sister Mary Patricia is survived by her sister-in-law Jane Winters (Emmitsburg), first cousin June Bouvier, niece Karen Myers, nephews James Winters, John R. Winters, John B. Winters, and numerous great nieces/nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Daughters of Charity Support Fund for the Elderly and Infirm Sisters, 333 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727.