Sister Mary Patricia Cassidy

Sister Mary Patricia Cassidy, 85, of the Sisters of Notre Dame, died Thursday, Dec. 4 at the Notre Dame Long Term Care Center.

Sister Mary Patricia was born in Peabody, daughter of Thomas F. and Mary E. (McManus) Cassidy.

She graduated from St. James High School in Salem and Emmanuel College in Boston. She earned master degrees in education from Salem State College and religious education from Fairfield University in Conn.

She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1940. She was a high school teacher for 25 years in Notre Dame Schools in Mass., Conn., and Rhode Island.

In 1969, she changed the focus of her ministry to parish religious education. She served as director of religious education for 24 years in several parishes in Central Conn., retiring in 1993.

She leaves five nephews, Edward Cassidy of Hampton, N.H., Paul Cassidy of Brooklyn, N.Y., Thomas Cassidy and Malcolm Cassidy, both in Vt., and Benjamin Cassidy of North Carolina; three nieces, Pat Cassidy of Salem, Judy Buchino of Vienna, Va. and Ellen Ribaldi of Marshfield; many great-nieces and great-nephews, and her sisters in religion, the Sisters on Notre Dame. Her three brothers, Thomas, John and Joseph Cassidy, and a great-nephew, Michael Cassidy, predeceased her.

Calling hours at the Notre Dame du Lac Chapel, 555 Plantation St., Worcester, are Tuesday, Dec. 9 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The funeral Mass will follow at 6 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will be in Notre Dame du Lac Cemetery, Worcester.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Notre Dame Retirement Fund, 468 Poquonock Ave., Windsor, CT 06095 or to the Michael Cassidy Scholarship Fund, 18 Heritage Dr., Hampton, NH 03842.