Obituaries

Sister Kathleen Thornton, RSM

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Kathleen (Miriam Cecilia) Thornton, RSM, who died on November 12, 2025, at the age of 88.

Born in Worcester, Mass., she was the daughter of George and Agnes Morrison Thornton. After graduating from Keene High School in Keene, N.H., she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Portland in 1954.

Sister Kathleen received a Bachelor of Arts degree in higher education from Saint Joseph’s College in Standish and then pursued studies at Pius X School of Liturgical Music in New York City and at Boston University.

After several years of elementary school teaching, she became the music supervisor for parochial schools in Portland, South Portland, and Westbrook. Sister Kathleen also gave private piano lessons to children as well as adults. She always looked forward to singing in the Portland Symphony Orchestra Choir, especially during the Magic of Christmas performance.

Sister Kathleen was also a composer, most notably composing her Concerto in G Minor, a piano composition for a solo instrument. She also had an avid love for writing and a unique artistry in calligraphy and design. In addition to possessing three copyrights for musical works, she had one copyright for an original watercolor.

During her years in retirement, Sister Kathleen devoted her time to prayer and visitations, while living at Deering Pavilionfra, Frances Warde Convent, St. Joseph’s Convent in Biddeford, and Gorham House in Gorham.  

Funeral Services:

Prayer and Visitation; Thursday, November 20, 9:15 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street in Portland

Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, November 20, 10 a.m., at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street in Portland.

Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.

Sister Mary Jo Divney, APB

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Mary Jo Divney, APB, who died September 12, 2025, at the age of 82.

A graduate of Cathedral High School in Portland, she entered the Sister Adorers of the Precious Blood Monastery in Portland in August 1961. She professed her final vows in November 1964.

The monastery, located on State Street, was a cloistered contemplative community, where the sisters prayed for intentions, for people who had no one to pray for them, and for priests. Sister Mary Jo initiated the Apostolate of Prayer for Priests, a calendar of prayer prepared by the sisters that continues in the Diocese of Portland to this day. There were 40 dioceses that sent their priests names to the sisters to have calendars made for them.

Sister Mary Jo was the superior of the community for many years and was also an active board member of the Federation of America of Precious Blood and was president for several terms.

She loved to cook and could often be found in the kitchen baking new and old recipes. 

In October 2018, the monastery in Portland closed, and the sisters moved to the Precious Blood Monastery in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Father Philip Michael Tracy

Please join in praying for the soul of Father Philip Michael Tracy, a priest of the Diocese of Portland who died on September 1, 2025, at the age of 94..

Father Tracy was born in Portland on April 6, 1931, the third child of Patrick Joseph Tracy and Catherine Elizabeth Earles Tracy. He attended St. Dominic School in Portland, then Holy Cross School in South Portland. He graduated from Cheverus High School in 1949.

He then In 1952 he entered Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky of the Order of Cistercians of the Stricter Observance (Trappists) and was one of the founders of Our Lady of New Clairvaux Abbey in California. However, with permission, he left the monastery in 1967 and returned home to serve as a diocesan priest.

For the Diocese of Portland, Father Tracy served in parishes in Houlton, Saco, Portland, Presque Isle, Lyman, Calais, Sabattus, and South Berwick. He also spent seven years as Newman chaplain at Bates College in Lewiston. While serving in the above parishes and Bates College, he served also, for 20 years as director of the Apostolate to the Catholic Deaf Catholics of Maine.

He retired in 2001. In February of 2002 he began serving the Spanish-speaking Catholics of Portland, later expanding to include those of Lewiston, Bangor, and Milbridge.

Reception of the Body

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a reception of the body and Liturgy of the Hours on Wednesday, September 10, at 4 p.m.at Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road, South Portland. Fr. Tracy will lie in state at the church until 7 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial

A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Holy Cross Church with Bishop James Ruggieri as the principal celebrant. Rev. Philip A. Tracy will be the homilist. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home of South Portland. To view Fr. Tracy’s memorial page or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

In lieu of flowers, South Portland Food Cupboard, 130 Thadeus Street, South Portland, ME  04106

Sister Maria Goretti Bernier, OSU

Please join in praying for the repose of the soul of Sister Maria Goretti Bernier, an Ursuline sister who died on August 24, 2025, at the age of 90.

The daughter of Edward J. and Viola McGinnis Bernier, she was born Jeanette Mary Bernier on May 7, 1935, in Sanford. She entered the Ursuline community on Jan. 15, 1953, and professed her vows on July 16, 1955.

Sister Maria Goretti was a certified nurses’ aide who proudly earned her high school degree at age 50. During her decades of ministry, she provided service to Ursuline communities in Boston, Dedham and Springfield, Massachusetts, and in Waterville, Sanford and Brunswick, Maine. She served many years on the local councils for the Ursuline communities in Waterville and Dedham.

Sister Phyllis Doyle, RSM

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Phyllis Doyle, RSM, who died on August 20, 2025 at the age of 95.

Sister Phyllis was the youngest of eight siblings born to James Doyle and Mary King Doyle. She attended Cathedral High School in Portland, after which she entered the Sisters of Mercy. 

She received a BA in English from Saint Joseph's College of Maine in Standish, a master's in English from the University of Maine, and then earned her PhD. from the University of Rhode Island.

Sister Phyllis taught at elementary, junior high, and high schools from Portland to Houlton, including John Bapst High School in Bangor. In 1974, she became a professor of English at Saint Joseph's College. A gifted poet and writer, while at Saint Joseph's College, she wrote and published several papers.

Sister Phyllis's religious motto was "Rejoice in the Lord," something she did throughout her life.