Posted October 22, 2019

Sister M. Patricia Ann Berger, I.H.M., died Sept. 11 in Camilla Hall, Immaculata at age 81 in the 64th year of her religious life.

She was born March 23, 1938. Her parents George and Josephine (Heiser) raised their children in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Mt. Carmel, Pa. Patricia attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and Catholic High School in Mount Carmel.

She entered the congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Sept. 8, 1955 and received her habit and religious name, Sister Mary Philomena, on March 8, 1956.

Sister Patricia professed her first vows Aug. 15, 1957. From then through June 1983, she taught children in the lower elementary grades in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Reading, and Decatur, Georgia. Beginning in August 1983 she taught children in the area of library science throughout upstate Pennsylvania through June 2009. She then served as the librarian at St. Pius X School in Broomall through June 2015.

Sister Patricia’s last assignment was to serve in the Apostolate of Prayer at Camilla Hall in August 2015. She served most faithfully in all areas of her life until her death on Sept. 11.

Her parents George and Josephine (Heiser) Berger and her nephew Robert Christian Berger predecease Sister Patricia. Present at her funeral Mass were her brothers Father Robert F. Berger, Francis X. (Sue) and her sister Kathleen Ferdock (Ronald).

Father Robert Berger was the celebrant and homilist of the funeral Mass Sept. 17 at Camilla Hall. The concelebrants were Msgrs. John J. Jagodzinski, Richard Malone and William Lynn, and Father Jonathan Sawicki.

Donations may be made in Sister Loretta’s memory to Camilla Hall, c/o IHM Mission Advancement, 230 IHM Drive, Malvern, PA  19355.