Sister Mary Bride Pollard, a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas died on April 22, 2022, at Mercy Center, Dallas PA . She was 93 years young.

Sister Bride was born July 12, 1928 in Larksville, PA and was the daughter of the late Matthew and Mary (Dooley) Pollard.

Sister Bride graduated from St. Vincent High School where she was class valedictorian. Upon graduation from high school, she was awarded a full four-year scholarship to College Misericordia. There she completed her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and went on to obtain her master’s degree from the University of Scranton. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in Dallas on February 2, 1947 and professed her vows on August 16, 1949.

Sister Bride was a gifted teacher as well as an administrator . During her ministry in Education ,she taught for many years in the dioceses of Scranton and Harrisburg, PA and in New York . She went on to serve as principal of Immaculate Conception School in New Oxford for twenty-five years. Sister cherished these years for the love and friendship she developed for the school, the community and especially the local town folks. In fact, she was asked to consider becoming the mayor of New Oxford.
Sister Bride was inspired to begin a pastoral ministry after witnessing compassionate individual and family care during the illness of her sister at Mercy Hospital, Scranton. This deeply moving experience led her to pursue a second master’s degree in pastoral ministry at St. Joseph’s College, West Hartford, Ct.

Upon completion of this degree and subsequent certification, she served as Pastoral Associate at the former Mercy Hospitals in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton and later at Mercy Center Dallas PA. During this period, she provided spiritual and emotional support to individuals and families. She was recognized by all she served and worked with for her quiet, caring presence especially during their time of need. Always willing to share a compassionate, listening ear, many individuals she cared for and worked alongside appreciated her dry and funny sense of humor.
Sister Bride was known for commitment to her faith, family, friends, Sisters of Mercy and Notre Dame football…not necessarily in that order.

She is survived by nieces Mary Jo Piazza, Judy Jones, Karen Kellam, and Mary Spagnuolo, nephews Joseph Rychwalski, Richard Pollard and Jerry Korey and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, especially “her Patti”.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 11:00 am at Gate of Heaven Church, 40 Machell Avenue, Dallas, PA 18612. Interment will be held in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton Section of Wyoming. Family and friend may call Wednesday morning from 10:30 am until the time of Mass at church. Masks and social distancing protocols are required at all times and will be followed during all services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the Sisters of Mercy, PO Box 369, Dallas PA 18612.