Sister Mary (Mary Patricia) Beard, age 88, died June 7, 2017 at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland. She was born on October 11, 1928 in Washington, DC. Sister Mary was the youngest of seven children born to Sara (Dean) and William Beard.
Sister Mary joined the Daughters of Charity on June 27, 1963 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Her first mission was St. Joseph Villa in Richmond, Virginia where she served as Business Manager (1965-1966). Other missions followed: St. Vincent Infant Home, Baltimore, Maryland (1966-1971); St. Joseph Provincial House, Emmitsburg (1971-1972); St. Vincent Home & School in Washington, DC (1972-1974); St. Joseph Villa in Richmond (1974-1976); St. Joseph House, Raleigh, North Carolina (1976-1979 and 1980-1983); and Immaculate Conception in Baltimore (1979-1980). For six years Sister Mary served in Emmitsburg as the Councillor for Social Ministry (1983-1989). When her leadership term finished, she continued serving on various missions: Jenkins Memorial Home in Baltimore (1989-1991); Seton Center in Emmitsburg (1991-1996); St. John the Baptist Parish in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina (1996-2000); St. Joseph House in Petersburg (2000-2006); and Our Lady of the Valley Center in Greensboro, North Carolina (2006-2009). In 2009 Sister Mary was missioned to Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg where she served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Sister Mary received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg in 1972. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond in 1976.
Sister Mary was preceded in death by her parents and six siblings. She is survived by nieces and nephews, and her Sisters in Community.
A wake service will be held on Friday, June 9 at 7:00 pm in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, followed by burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME in Emmitsburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sister Mary’s name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108.