Daria Bisulca, RSM

July 7, 2023

Daria Bisulca, RSM, a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, died peacefully at home in Dallas, PA on Friday, July 7, 2023.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Sr. Daria was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mamie (Cardamone) Bisulca.

She entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1963, professed her perpetual vows in 1971, and was to celebrate 60 years as a Sister of Mercy this September. A graduate of College Misericordia, and Manhattan College (MS in Education), Sr. Daria pursued advanced study in Theology at the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, NY. Sr. Daria’s education prepared her for decades of Mercy service in Education, Administration, and Spiritual Care in the dioceses of Brooklyn, NY and Scranton, PA.

After many years as Director of Religious Education and Assistant Principal at Sacred Heart School in Bayside, Queens, New York, Sr. Daria returned to the home of her heart—the Wyoming Valley and the Diocese of Scranton. In the Diocese, she ministered as a Pastoral Associate at St. Maria Goretti Parish in Laflin, St. Nicholas, Wilkes-Barre, and St. Ann’s, Williamsport. In each of the parishes she served, Sr. Daria was fully committed to faith formation, believing that a vibrant Parish Community was critically important to the success of ongoing Catholic Church renewal.

As she grew older, Sr. Daria turned her attention to the needs of elderly nursing home residents. She found a new challenge at Little Flower Manor/St. Therese Nursing Home, Wilkes-Barre, where she was the Director of Spiritual Care. Sr. Daria’s innate empathy and her gentle manner endeared her to the Residents and their families. Sr. Daria left the nursing home when she was invited to become the Sisters’ Coordinator at Mercy Center, a position that enabled her to share her gifts with the frail elderly who were also her loving sisters.

Sr. Daria’s life-long commitment to the people of God was characterized by kindness and compassion.

All Sisters of Mercy choose a “motto” at their Religious Profession. It is no wonder that Sr. Daria’s is “I will sing to the Lord with Joy.”  For her entire life, Sr. Daria was a talented musician. She was blessed with a singing voice that was crystalline in its clarity and tone. She was a sought-after Cantor and brought joy to everyone who had the privilege to hear her sing. If there truly is a choir of heavenly angels, Sr. Daria, in her new Life with her loving God, will be welcomed as a soloist.

Sr. Daria was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mamie; her brother, Samuel Bisulca; her sister, Christine Lykin, and her nephew Jason Bisulca.

She is survived by her brother, Joseph Bisulca of Wilkes-Barre and her sister, Frances Gilbert of Bethlehem, PA; her nieces and nephews, and many friends among the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Associates and throughout the Valley and Bayside, NY.

The Sisters of Mercy wish to thank the wonderful staff at Mercy Center who generously cared for Sr. Daria and the faithful staff of Hospice of the Sacred Heart for making her journey as comfortable as possible.

The Celebration of Sr. Daria’s Life will be Monday, July 10, 2023, beginning at 9:30am with visitation followed with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am in Blessed Sacrament Chapel at Mercy Center, Dallas.  Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton section of Wyoming, PA.

Memorial contributions in Sr. Daria’s name may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, PO Box 370, Dallas PA 18612 or the charity of your choice.