BROPHY – Sister Michele, RSM, 87, a member of Mid-Atlantic Community of the Sisters of Mercy, died Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at Mercy Center, Dallas, Pa. The former Mary Alice Brophy was born Oct. 19, 1922, in Gallitzin, daughter of the late Thomas E. Brophy and Alice Mary Pfeister Brophy. Sister Michele received her elementary education at Steven Grade School and graduated from Altoona High School in 1940. She enrolled at Mount Aloysius Junior College and earned an associate of science degree in June 1942. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in Dallas, Pa., in September 1942 and made her profession of vows in 1945. Sister Michele earned a bachelor of science degree with a minor in music from College Misericordia (now Misericordia University) and master of library science from Simmons College, Boston, Mass. She also attended Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute, earning certification in pastoral counseling. Sister Michele taught in the parochial schools, principally in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese, for 15 years, in diocesan high schools for 10 years and at Mount Aloysius Junior College for five years, for a total of 30 years in classroom education. She then began a new ministry, working with Blair County Association for Retarded Citizens, and as coordinator of ministry with Persons With Disabilities for an additional 16 years. She also served as coordinator of the peer counseling program of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Altoona/Blair County Region. Her most rewarding program was working with women prisoners in the Blair County Prison, Hollidaysburg. In 2000, Sister Michele was named “Woman of Distinction” by the Altoona Mirror because of her many contributions to the well-being of citizens of Altoona and Blair counties. She served on Blair County Special Housing Needs Task Force, Blair County Independent Monitoring Team and Geriatric Interest Network. Mount Aloysius Alumni Association awarded her its Distinguished Alumni Award in July 2008. Sister Michele moved to Mercy Center, Dallas, Pa., to its Personal Care Unit in 2008, and continued in her Ministry of Prayer. Preceded in death by parents and sister, Ellen Elizabeth Ossman. Survived by sisters, Jane T. Shover, Walkersville, Md.; and Frances H. Chramek, Ocean Pines, Md.; a number of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; and by her Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic Community. Friends will be received from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 21, at The Stevens Mortuary Inc., 1421 Eighth Ave., Altoona, where a vigil for the deceased will be held. Funeral Mass will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, March 22, at Our Lady of Mercy Chapel at Mount Aloysius College, Cresson. Committal, Sisters of Mercy Cemetery at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson. Memorial contributions in the name of Sister Michele Brophy may be made to the Retirement Fund, Sisters of Mercy of the Mid-Atlantic Community, P.O. Box 369, Dallas, Pa. 18612.
