Beatrice Sweeney

Sister Beatrice Sweeney was born July 14,1931 in New York City to a family with

five children. During her early school years, Beatrice became a Girl Scout at

Devine Providence Shelter run by the FMM and attended the summer camps at

St. Helene with the Scout Troop and later worked as a camp counselor. After

graduating from Cathedral High School, she worked as a mail clerk at the

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

The following year, 1949, Beatrice entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary at

Fruit Hill, N. Providence. She became a novice in 1950 and made her First Vows

in 1952. Beatrice then attended Emmanuel College and returned to Camp St.

Helene during the summer times. Beatrice made her Final Vows in Boston at St.

Clement’s Convent in 1955. She graduated in 1956 with a BA in Education and

was missioned to Espirito Santo School in Fall River to teach. She also taught

religion in other schools there. Her next mission was in 1958. when Beatrice was

sent to Singapore to work at a Catholic Center training catechists. In 1959

Beatrice was missioned to Kuantan, Malaysia to be principal of a primary school.

She was soon made administrator, teacher and house mother to the boarding

students.

Then, in 1963, Beatrice was missioned to teach science at St. Agnes High School

in Rooty Hill, Australia. Here she was able to direct the making of an award-

winning science exhibit which assured the school’s accreditation and a much-

needed grant to build up the school’s science department. Beatrice then returned

to studies and obtained the Australian Diploma of Education and was appointed

School Principal at Rooty Hill from 1963-1970.

In 1970, Beatrice was given the mission to be a companion and secretary to Sr.

Dora, provincial of Australia at that time until 1972. She briefly returned to

teaching at Palm Island before returning to the States. Upon her return, Beatrice

was missioned to be Provincial Secretary and later was Local Coordinator in the

Fall River Community.

Beatrice is known for her gifts of intelligent and gentle leadership skills, warmth,

and sensitivity to others. She was missioned to Fruit Hill Assisted Living until she

was recently missioned to St. Antoine Residence where she went home to God on

October 21st.

Sr. Beatrice's Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 30, 2023 at 11:00 am in Holy Family Chapel, 399 Fruit Hill Avenue, North Providence. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery.

Visiting hours Sunday, October 29, 2023 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm in the same chapel.