Sr. Mary Harold Bernice Lopata, of Detroit, age 90, religious 72 years, entered eternal life May 28 at St. Joseph Care Center, Livonia.

Born on the feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Aug. 26, 1922, the fourth of five children of Anthony and Agnes (Suchan) Lopata, Bernice was baptized and confirmed at St. John Cantius Church in Detroit, where she attended grade school. After graduation from Felician Academy, she was accepted into the Felician Congregation in 1940 and known as Sr. Mary Harold. Final profession of vows was in 1948.

Sr. Lopata earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Madonna (College) University and a Master of Arts degree from Marquette University. Traversing Michigan, she and taught at Resurrection, St. Casimir, Our Lady Help of Christians, St. Josaphat, Sacred Heart and St. Stanislaus — all in Detroit; St. Stanislaus, Bay City; St. Florian, Hamtramck; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Wyandotte; Holy Rosary, Saginaw; and Madonna University, Livonia.

In 1970, Sr. Lopata received a three-year assignment in Rome as a secretary in the Sacred Roman Rota.  She also volunteered for work in the Secretariat of State because of an influx of letters to the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, after his first visit to the United States.

In 1976 and again in 1988, she was appointed for two six-year terms as treasurer general of the Felician Sister in Rome. A distinctive highlight was assisting with the planning of the beatification activities for Blessed Mary Angela in 1993.

Sr. Lopata also served as coordinator of the St. Mary Hospital Family Medical Center in Livonia, and in 1995 was assigned as business manager of St. Joseph Home for children in Jackson. Her final assignment in 2000 was assistant to the treasurer in the provincial house, where she managed the finances for the Montessori Center of Our Lady and for the Clergy Village.

Baseball was a favorite sport since her brother, Stan Lopata, was a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.  A highlight was to see Stan play in the World Series with the New York Yankees on the convent’s first TV set back in the 1950s.

Medical conditions, failing eyesight and hearing compelled Sr. Lopata to transfer to St. Joseph Care Center in 2011, where she spent many hours before the Eucharistic Lord.

Sr. Lopata is survived by her brother, Stanley Lopata.

Mass of Resurrection was May 31 in the chapel of the Felician Sisters Central Covent in Livonia. Fr. Timothy Babcock, chaplain, celebrated. Her remains were interred in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.