Obituaries

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.

Sister Edward Mary Kelleher, RSM

Sister Edward Mary Kelleher, RSM, who served as principal of Catherine McAuley High School in Portland for decades, died peacefully on July 30, 2025, at the age of 84.

Sister Edward Mary (Sandra Jean) and her twin brother, Edward Charles, were born to James H. Kelleher and Florence L. Sucy Kelleher in Bangor on June 27, 1941.

After graduating from John Bapst High School in Bangor in 1959, she worked in business before entering the Sisters of Mercy. After earning a bachelor's degree in education from Saint Joseph's College of Maine in Standish and a master's from Boston College, she began a career in education, which included teaching at Cathedral School in Portland. In 1980, she was named principal of Catherine McAuley High School, where she served for 30.

At McAuley H.S., she touched the lives of many students, saying upon her retirement, "Ladies, you are my legacy."

Sister Rachel Cushman, RSM

Please join in praying for the repose of the soul of Sister Rachel Cushman, RSM (Sister Mary Germaine) who died on July 20, 2025, at the age of 94.

Sister Rachel was born in Bangor in 1931 and was one of 11 children of George Mason Cushman and Mary Alice Chisholm.

She professed her final vows with the Sisters of Mercy in 1956, taking as her religious motto, Silence. 

After receiving a bachelor's in education from Saint Joseph's College of Maine in Standish and a master's from the University of Southern Maine, Sister Rachel would spend over 40 years teaching elementary education in Catholic schools from Portland to Bangor. She then volunteered to assist the life and ministry administrator of the community