Sister Mary Barbara ND 5560 PDF Download
Barbara Ann MORSCHER
(formerly Sister Mary Dennine)
Immaculate Conception Province, USA
Date and Place of Birth: December 11, 1942 Cleveland, Ohio
Date and Place of Profession: January 3, 1963 Chardon, Ohio
Date and Place of Death: February 7, 2026 Health Care Center, Chardon, Ohio
Date and Place of Burial: February 20, 2026 Resurrection Cemetery, Chardon
Barbara was second of the three girls born to Joseph and Mary (Kapolka) Morscher. Their family life was simple and filled with happy times. Catholic faith was nurtured and practiced. The girls often helped their father, an apartment custodian and great handyman who was able to repair anything. Barbara loved music and took accordion and piano lessons. She and her sisters attended St. Aloysius Elementary School where Barbara was in awe of her teachers and felt a leaning toward becoming a teacher and entering the convent. She attended St. Peter High School, staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame, where she worked hard to achieve honors, participated in many school activities and continued to experience a longing for religious life. Barbara entered as a postulant on July 2, 1960, and at investment received the name Sister Mary Dennine.
Sister Mary Barbara earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John College in Cleveland and a master’s degree from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. As an elementary school teacher, Sister enjoyed the children while still being clear and definite about learning expectations. She developed an ability to play the guitar which became a vehicle to enrich Sister’s spiritual life and to improve the celebration of liturgy and paraliturgies for the stu-dents. She was attracted to this form of music ministry. For twenty-four years as principal, Sister Mary Barbara supported teachers, showed love and concern for the children and worked to provide a healthy, cheerful and safe environment for all. She reflected, “It’s not the building that makes a school great, it’s the people within the school.”
In 2000, Sister discerned a change from a formal school setting to that of a more pastoral nature in a parish setting. Several parishes in the Youngstown Diocese benefitted from Sister’s background and expertise as she ministered as Parish Director of Religious Education. Her vision of ministry was shaped by her family, the Church, the Sisters of Notre Dame and many years in elementary education.
After a diagnosis of cancer, Sister Mary Barbara moved to the provincial center and began a challenging journey with declining health issues. As she was able, she assisted at the reception desk and drove sisters to appointments. She reconnected with her sisters in community and was grateful for all she had received. During this past year Sister Mary Barbara was not able to recover from a very serious and complicated surgery. She wrote, “I have been blessed to be a religious sister, in particular a Sister of Notre Dame. All of my experiences have brought me to a deeper understanding and love of Christ and his Church.” May she rest in peace.
