Sister Elizabeth 'Betty' Doyle, RSM

Elizabeth Ann Doyle, RSM (formerly Sister Maria Clare) 83, a Sister of Mercy for 65 years died on Friday, November 25, 2022 at Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. Betty was the daughter of the late John and his wife Ann (Cole) Doyle. She is survived by her brother John (Jack) Doyle and his wife Patricia and their children Karen Riordan, Katherine Montanaro, and Kevin Doyle. Sister was especially proud of her grandnieces, Grace and Nina, and grandnephews Vincent and Khoury. Among her many friends are Catherine Donovan RSM with whom she lived and Elizabeth McAuliffe RSM.

Betty attended St. Leo School and St. Mary Academy, BayView. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, and a master’s degree from St. Michael’s College in Winooski, Vermont. In 1957 she entered the Sisters of Mercy. She began a career teaching Grade 2 in Cleary School in Providence and SS. Peter and Paul School in West Warwick and Grade 8 in St. Joseph, Pascoag in the Diocese of Providence. She then moved to Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, MA where she taught religion for eleven years. Betty loved teaching. She saw education as both her giving knowledge to students and discovering knowledge with them. Her love of imparting and receiving information was a hallmark of her ministries after she left the formal classroom.

Betty earned a degree in Spiritual Direction and Parish ministry from Mercy Center in Colorado and returned to minister at LaSalette Spiritual Life Center in Enfield, NH. She then came to Mercy Lodge in Cumberland where she offered retreats, spiritual direction and served as the Mistress of Novices for the Providence community.

In 1995 she moved to Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster, MA where she engaged in a variety of parish ministries including liturgy preparation, religious education, home visitation of the sick, adult prayer and discussion groups. After 18 years on the Cape, she moved to Pawtucket where she was active in St. Raymond Parish as well as her Mercy community.

At her final profession she chose as her motto: “To bear witness.” As a teacher, spiritual director, parish worker and friend to so many she bore witness to God’s love and mercy through her words and actions. In the last three years as she battled illness, she witnessed to living life as fully as she could—with the help of friends she continued to participate in family, parish, and community activities. Her attendance at the Fresenius Kidney Care in Pawtucket developed a bond with the workers and other patients where her faith offered a source of hope to others. On November 25 with family and friends present, she went to bear witness to her God for the life she lived by her response to the needs of others.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at St. John Vianney Church, 3587 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI. Visitation will be at 9:15 a.m. with a Mercy Prayer Service at 10:15 a.m. Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland.

In place of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 15 Highland View Road, Cumberland, RI, 02864. www.sistersofmercy.org  Information and condolences please visit: www.galloglyfuneralhome.com

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