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Sister Barbara was born to George and Angela (Nellie) Sudol in Brooklyn, New York, on August 21, 1942. She was the second-oldest and the only girl among four siblings. Many of Sister’s early years found her dealing with bouts of illness. Sister often said that it was during that time that she began her love of reading.
Sister attended Our Lady of Czestochowa School in Brooklyn, New York, and St. John Villa Academy in Staten Island, New York. She worked at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company before entering the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth on January 8, 1960.
On August 10, 1960, Sister entered the novitiate, where she received the name Sister Mary Peter. In 1981, she would revert to her baptismal name. After professing her first vows on August 10, 1962, Sister Barbara was sent to teach at St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York. Four years later, Sister was transferred to minister at Little Flower Institute, Wading River, New York, to work with children placed in foster care. She would remain there for only one year when she was assigned to teach at Holy Rosary School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Sister professed her final vows on August 11, 1967, adding the mystery Mary Reparatrix to her name. After professing her final vows, Sister returned to the classroom, where she would continue teaching at the elementary, high school, and college levels in schools in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York for 49 years.
While ministering to students in the classroom, Sister was attending college herself. She earned a BA in English from Holy Family University in 1971, a Master’s in English from Southern Connecticut State College in 1977, and a Doctor of Arts in English from St. John’s University in Jamaica, New York in 2001.
Her love of teaching led her to volunteer one summer to teach English to young seminarians in Vietnam. Sister taught several sisters in our European countries the rudiments of English. In July of 2017, Sister was appointed the Superior of Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent in Monroe, Connecticut, until her retirement in July of 2020.
Sister Barbara was the author of several published books – spiritual, poetry, and fiction. She had a deep love for the Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, the subject of many of her poems.
Sister will be remembered as a person who loved her Religious Congregation, her family and friends, one who enjoyed life despite some suffering, ever grateful for any kindness shown her, and someone who could see the humor in the situations through which she lived.
Sister Barbara entered St. Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on the fifteenth of November. Two days later, Sister learned of her illness and began treatment, determined to be home in ten days. As her disease worsened, she realized that she was not going to be cured. Choosing to stop treatment, Sister Barbara passed peacefully in the early afternoon of November 27, 2025.
Sister Barbara once said, “When I die, I will see God face to face. I will meet with the people I have lost through death, with whom I will have a gala reunion. I do not fear death; it is a natural conclusion to the life I have been given. I came forth from the hand of God, and I shall return to His hand.”
Be at peace, Sister Barbara, as He holds you in His hand.
