Sr. Pauline C. Baris, 89, Franciscan Missionary of Mary, Our Lady Queen of Peace Community, died March 12, 2014 at Elmhurst Extended Care Facility, Providence. She was born in Central Falls , daughter of the late Ferdinand and Eva, (Bedard) Baris.
She attended Notre Dame Schoo lthere, and after graduation worked in the accounting and secretarial departments of the former Pantex Mfg.Co.,Pawtucket,Rl, and as assistant bookkeeper at Tilden Thurber's in downtown Providence.
At the age of twenty seven, Pauline entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in Quebec, on March 8,1951. She attended Ottawa University in 1954, studying Child Care and Guidance. After Sister's fina lprofession in Winnipeg, Manitoba September 17, 1956 ,she was sent to an FMM Day Care Center there, doing Group Work and Home Visits for under privileged children. Sister Pauline remained in this ministry until1 968 when she attended a refresher course at Willis Business College in Ottawa.
Then came the great day in 1968 when Sister Pauline's hopes and dreams to go on the missions were fulfilled and she was sent to Monrovia, Liberia. In 1972, Sister Pauline was one of the delegates at the General Chapter, representing West Africa. After this Chapter she returned to her mission in Liberia. Until 1975, Sr. Pauline served in various ministries: part time teacher at the high school teaching typing, shorthand and training other community treasurers.
In 1976, she was sent in mission to the Province of Canada with a ministry to help the local treasurers as well as other responsibilities in the business field. In October of 1977, she was missioned to Jirapa, Ghana where she served as the accountant at Jirapa Hospital. She also taught a young Ghanaian to take over the hospital accounts. From 1980 to 1995 she was missioned to Accra, Ghana. There Sister Pauline served as a provincial councilor, also in the SECAM secretariat at the Apostolic Nunciature as an accountant. Then she went to Winneba, Ghana as the local superior, provincial councilor and helped with accounts.In 1995, Pauline was missioned to the United States where she did a renewal at Berakah in New Hampshire. After completing her renewal she was missioned to Our Lady of Wisdom community in St Louis, Missouri.
She served as the community coordinator, and as a Eucharistic Minister in a local parish. In 1999, she was missioned to Queen of Peace Community in North Providence. She served as the Co-director for Finance and for Facilities and Properties at Fruit Hill, N. Providence. From 2007 to 2013 she served as the Local Coordinator of Queen of Peace Community
Throughout her missionary life, Pauline lived her commitment to “follow Christ in the Spirit, offering her life unreservedly to the Father after the example of Mary and Francis, for the Church and the salvation of the World. ” She worked quietly, diligently and tirelessly fulfilling her demanding ministries. Joyful and loving, Pauline's sisters knew that they could always count on her. In her later years, as community coordinator, her greatest joy was having time to listen more attentively with an understanding heart to her Sisters.
She is survived by her sister, Marguerite Duquette and her brother, Hubert Baris of Central Falls RI and many nieces, grand nieces, grand nephews and great grand nieces and nephews.