Sister Barbara Berbusse, (Sr. M. Roberta), RDC, a member of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, died on June 2, 2003 at Good Counsel Convent in White Plains. Sister Barbara was 82. She was born March 30, 1921 in Port Chester, NY, the daughter of William and Lauretta (Lyons) Berbusse. Sr. Barbara entered the Sisters of the Divine Compassion on April 26, 1940. She received a BA in English from Good Counsel College, MS in Education from Fordham University and MA in Theology from Manhattan College. Sister Barbara began her career in education teaching at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Elmsford and Good Counsel Academy Elementary School in White Plains. She was appointed first principal of Sacred Heart School in Hartsdale, 1953-1960 and later as principal of St. Lawrence O'Toole School in Brewster, 1960-1965. From 1966-71 she was an assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the College of White Plains and from 1972-77 Assistant Director of Religious Education in the Diocese of Norwich, CT. In 1977 Sister Barbara entered a new field of ministry in clinical pastoral education as Resident Chaplain at Long Lane School, Middletown, CT and in '78-'79 as Resident Chaplain at Norwich Hospital. Sister returned to the White Plains area as Director of the Center for Religious Study at Pace University, 1979-1981. From 1981-1988 Sister Barbara served as Pastoral Minister at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Yonkers; in 1989 at St. Camillus Health Care Center in Stamford and in 1990 to her retirement at St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry.
Sister Barbara was a member of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. Sister Alice Feeley, President of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, said, "To her years of ministry in education and pastoral care, Sr. Barbara brought integrity and commitment to the service of others, energy for new learning and strong organizational skills." Sr. Barbara Berbusse is survived by her religious Sisters of the Divine Compassion and her brother, William of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and her sister, Adele Ziegelmeier of Jupiter, Florida and several nieces and nephews.
