Sister M. Paula Bichey, OSF

june 18, 1914 -  july 1, 1961

Mary Bichey was born in Windber, Pa., and baptized there in SS. Cyril and Methodius Church. At age 7, she was enrolled in the public school at Windber. After two years, however, the family moved to McKees Rocks, Pa., and Mary had the opportunity to attend a Catholic school at St. Mark Parish.

On August 28, 1929, she entered our community as a postulant, taking up high school studies at our newly established Mount Assisi Academy. She received her religious habit on August 3, 1930, and with it the name of Sister Paula. On August 4, 1931, Sister Paula pronounced her first holy vows. She remained at the Motherhouse to complete her high school work. She was in the first graduating class of Mount Assisi Academy in 1932.

Sister’s initial assignment was to teach first grade in Erie, Pa. For a few years she taught primary and intermediate grades at St. Gabriel Parish in Pittsburgh and at Holy Family Parish in Erie. After her perpetual vows on August 4, 1937, Sister Paula taught in Barnesboro for one year then continued her college education at Villa Maria College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in home economics in 1942.

For the next five years, Sister Paula taught home economics and commercial subjects at Mount Assisi Academy, where she also had charge of the boarding girls for a time. During these years, Sister spent five summers teaching Christian Doctrine at Houtzdale, Pa. In 1947, Sister was stationed at the newly opened Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa., where she efficiently helped with the many duties that accompany the opening of a new home. In the two years following, Sister Paula taught sixth grade in Bethlehem, after which she returned to Bellevue to teach commercial subjects at Mount Assisi Academy.

In the spring of 1954, her teaching was interrupted by a grave attack of pleurisy, persisting for several months and leaving her lungs weakened. For the next six years, Sister Paula was served as superior at St. Francis Retreat House, Beechwood Boulevard.  Her health began to fail so that, during her last two years at the Retreat House, she was hospitalized on several occasions. In September 1960, Sister was relieved of all duties and returned to the Motherhouse for further care.

Sister Paula is remembered for her cheerful spirit and fine sense of humor. She was a hard-working, prayer-loving, simple soul noted for her order, neatness and conscientious fulfillment of duties. In her last illness, she once remarked, “How I would like to get up and wash windows.” Joy in service still entered her mind even when sickness rendered her incapable.

Because her death came at a time when most of the Sisters were at the Motherhouse for the summer, Sister enjoyed the special grace of having so many of her fellow Sisters, led by the Motherhouse chaplain, recite aloud for her the liturgical prayers for the dying before the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, just two days prior to her death. Sister Paula died, as she had often wished, on a Saturday. She was buried on July 5, 1961.

Sister Paula is buried in St. Francis Cemetery at Mt. Assisi Place in Pittsburgh, Pa.