Sister Patricia O’Mera, M.M. Maryknoll Sister for 74 Years, Dies

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Patricia O’Mera died at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY on January 13th, 2023. She was 95 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 74 years.

She was born in Seattle, WA on April 18th, 1927 to Irving O’Mera and Kathryn Scanlon O’Mera and was their only child.

In 1945, Patricia graduated Holy Names Academy in Seattle, WA and then attended Seattle University.  She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY on September 4th, 1948.

She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on March 7th, 1951 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on March 7th, 1954 in Chile, South America.

From 1950-1952, Sister Patricia studied at the Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the property of the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY) and graduated with a Bachelor of Education Degree. She then received her first overseas mission assignment to the Chile Region in the rural town of Curepto where she began with studying the Spanish language. She then served as a teacher and taught first and second grade until 1956 when she was assigned to Buzeta, Santiago to teach third grade at a parish school. In 1957, she was re-assigned to San Vicente parish school in Chillán, Chile where she taught grades first through fourth and English in the high school. In 1965 she returned to Santiago to work with adult religious formation groups.

Sister Patricia was elected as Delegate for the Maryknoll Sisters General Assembly in 1968 and was part of the Implementation Team. She was responsible for carrying out decisions, changes and communicating pertinent information to the entire Congregation.

In 1970, she relocated to San Diego, CA to study Adult Education at San Diego Community College and was assigned to the U.S. Western Region in 1974.

From 1971-2004, Sister Patricia taught Adult Education, an Amnesty Program and did volunteer work ministering to the ill and elderly.

In 2006 Sister Patricia retired to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll. NY. She volunteered and helped wherever she was needed around the Sisters Center and remained there until her death.

Sister Patricia has generously willed her body to medical science.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Patricia on Monday, January 23rd, 2023 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, January 24th, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.