Barbara Ann Barbato, SL
Sister Barbara Ann (formerly Sr. Mary Bernard) Barbato SL, died August 7, 2024, in her home in St. Louis. She was 92 and in the 72th year of her Loretto commitment. Born February 4, 1932, in Denver. Daughter of Jenna Mae (Julian) and Lewis Barbato. Received into the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross December 8, 1952. She earned a bachelor’s in history in 1952 at Loretto Heights College, Denver, a doctorate in European history in 1964 at St. Louis University and a master’s in management in 1981 at Webster University in St. Louis.
Sr. Barbara Ann, Webster University professor emerita from 2003 until her death, taught history for more than 40 years at the college founded in 1915 by the Sisters of Loretto. She first taught 4th grade students at St. Ann’s Parish Grade School, Normandy, 1955-1956. In Webster Groves, she taught students typing, history and English at Nerinx Hall High School, 1958-1961. In 1963, she began her college faculty ministry at Webster University, retiring in 2001. At the university campuses – Webster Groves, Geneva Switzerland, and Iceland NATO Base – she taught courses in history and international relations, in teacher-preparation, in social sciences and in business management. Among her many other university roles, Barbara Ann served as education administrator; coordinator, mentor and adviser for the graduate program in international studies; director of the Center for Individualized Studies; and interim dean of students. Elsewhere, Sister Barbara Ann taught at Bishop Toolen High School in Mobile, Ala., 1956-1958, and Loretto Academy in Kansas City, Mo., 1967-1969.
Achieving certification, Sr. Barbara Ann regularly served as a first responder and dispatcher for the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team and on an as-needed basis with Disaster Service Human Relations in Mass Care sheltering and feeding, 2003-2012. She was active on a number of trustee/director boards and committees, including Nerinx Hall High School and The Sarah Community, Bridgeton. Within her congregation, she was a trustee of the Charitable Trust Fund, had served on the Investment Committee and did communications work in St. Louis. She was a longtime Shrewsbury resident and member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, where she served as a Eucharistic minister at most weekday Masses.
Sr. Barbara Ann had said she knew from the time she was in 2nd grade that she was going to be a nun. Reflecting on her many years, she said, “Loretto has been a wondrous experience. I really learned from people who took time to teach me. They taught me in such a wonderful way. I was very fortunate and always felt like a spoiled child of God.”
Preceding her in death were her parents and her brother, Lewis Barbato Jr. She is survived by her sister, Mary Catherine Johnson of Denver, dear friend, Annie Stevens CoL, and many nieces and nephews.
Services: A memorial Mass will be celebrated for Sr. Barbara Ann on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Nerinx Hall High School, 530 E. Lockwood, Webster Groves at 10 am. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Loretto for our mission, c/o Loretto Motherhouse, 515 Nerinx Road, Nerinx, KY 40049 or as an online gift at www.lorettocommunity.org.
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