Sister Mary Mercedes Cook, SCMC, was called Home to God on Sunday, January 4, 2026 after a long illness, with her last years spent at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham CT. Sister was born Jacqueline Fayre Cook in Hagerstown, MD in 1939, the daughter of the late Garland and Anita (Willis) Cook, and later moved with her family to Norwich, CT. She graduated from the Academy of the Holy Family in Baltic, CT then entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church in 1958, professing Perpetual Vows in the Community in 1966.
Sister earned degrees at Eastern Connecticut State University. She began her long professional life of more than 50 years as educator at St. Joseph School in Baltic, Byram, Bloomfield, Taftville and Manchester, CT. After her assignment to the Academy of the Holy Family where she served in several roles, Sister established and directed Sacred Heart Learning Center where she and her outstanding staff of lay educators excelled at mentoring children and young people needing remedial and summer school classes, giving special attention to neurodiverse students and those with learning disabilities and speech/language challenges. Sister Mercedes was deeply grateful to her faithful friends who supported her in her frequent projects and fundraisers, and who continued their friendships with her in her last years at St. Joseph Living Center, where she received compassionate and professional care through her many health crises. Besides her parents, Sister Mercedes was predeceased by her sister Roselyn Barboza and is survived by her loving Sisters of Charity and her attentive nieces Jackie Barboza and Jamie Rose.
Sister died as she lived, in love with her Lord, eagerly awaiting a face to Face encounter with Him.
Friends may call at the Motherhouse in Baltic, CT on:
Thursday and Friday, January 8th and 9th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and
Saturday, January 10th before the funeral Mass which begins at 10:00 a.m.
* Please see parking information below
The funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel, Baltic, CT.
Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, Baltic.
Following the burial, please join us for a light luncheon at the Academy Dining Room on campus, where her life will be celebrated with fellowship and stories.
* Please see parking information below
* IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION
– There is limited parking available at the Motherhouse. Please reserve this space for those requiring accessible parking
– General parking is available across the street in the St. Mary’s Church parking lot
– You may also drop off passengers at the blue door in the back of the Motherhouse prior to parking in the St. Mary’s Church parking lot
Godere-Guillot funeral home is assisting the Sisters with the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
Funeral Mass
If you are unable to join us and would like to view the live stream of the Mass, you can do so on the SCMC Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/scmc.baltic
Or watch below: Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
(The sound will be off until the start of the Funeral Mass. If you still cannot hear it at that point, please check the speaker icon at the bottom of the video screen to ensure that it is not crossed off and on mute.)
Share a memory
In the comment box below, you can send condolences or share your favorite memories of Sister Mercedes with her family and the Sisters.
Thank you for taking the time to share. God bless you!
In His Peace and Merciful Love,
and then
12 Responses
Dear Sister, I am very sorry for your loss. Please accept my sincere condolences. May God give you strength and peace.
Oh dear Sister Mercedes what plentiful memories we have from the many years we had known you. I worked for many years at the Learning Center for Sister and we developed a very special friendship. My daughter also worked for Sister when she was home from college. We all participated in the celebration of her Jubilee. Our family has relocated to PA and we were not in touch with Sister for many years, but we often reminisced about her. Truly she left footprints on our hearts and we will always remember her with great fondness. She has gone to her heavenly reward!
Peace and comfort,
Roseann McGarvey and family
Sister Mercedes was a wonderful teacher and advisor. An all around beautiful and soulful person! I don’t know if I would’ve survived at AHF without her. She had so much love and happiness to give. I loved her dearly and I hope she is at peace and in the loving arms of God.
I met Sister Mercedes when I began teaching at the Academy. I loved her energy and enthusiasm. Shortly after meeting my husband, she told me that she had hoped I would have joined the Sisters of Charity, but God had a different plan. I was fortunate to continue my friendship with her through the years after moving to Maryland and have been extremely fortunate to have been blessed with her guidance and love. My family and I will miss her greatly.
As a former student of the Academy of the Holy Family . My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all the sisters at the Mother house. She was a beautiful person and showed a lot of love for everyone.
My friend, you will be missed. We had many good times and lots of laughs.
I love you Sister Mercedes. Eternally rest grant on to Sister Mercedes O Lord let perpetual light shine upon her may she rest in peace Amen. A prayer sister Mercedes would say alot for everything precious Blood of Jesus protect and cover Sister Mercedes. I would never of gotten my GED if it was not for Sister Mercedes helping me.
You will be missed. I will miss your smile
I was a student at AHF and Sister was a junior and I senior.
I visited her after her teaching careers in Baltic..I have such wonderful memories of our talks and laughter together
My sympathy and prays to her family and all our sisters at the convent in Baltic.
I went to school with Jackie Barboza, never knowing at the time that she was Sister Mercedes’ neice! My condolences to Jackie and all of Sister Mercedes family and all the sisters at the Morherhouse. God bless you all with His comfort and peace and may God Rest her beautiful, faithful, fun-filled compassionate soul! <3
Sister Mercedes was a dear and loved family friend for many years. She kept in touch and always wanted to know how everyone was doing and what people were up to, but mostly wanted to know any prayer intentions that she could include on our behalf. We felt her prayers and greatly appreciated her prayers and love. She will be missed. Rest in peace dear Sister Mercedes.
One of my best teachers in so many ways in class and out. Joy and laughter always. Many great memories grateful she was in my life.