A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 26 in McAuley Hall Health Care Center, Watchung, for Mercy Sister Mary Harold Phelan who died Sept. 20. She was 85.

Born and raised in Trenton, Sister Mary Harold attended St. Anthony Grammar School, Hamilton, and Cathedral High School, Trenton. Upon her graduation in 1945, she entered the Sisters of Mercy and ministered primarily in the field of education.

She continued her education, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in French from Georgian Court College (now Georgian Court University), Lakewood, and a certificate in language studies from Laval University, Quebec, Canada. Sister Mary Harold also studies in the Universities of Toulouse and Bordeaux in France and a master’s degree in French from Assumption College, Worcester, Mass.

Sister Mary Harold taught French in St. Mary Academy, Lakewood, and St. Mary School, Perth Amboy. She also taught as an instructor of contemporary French literature during the summer sessions in Georgian Court.

Her teaching career also included Phillipsburg Catholic High School, Phillipsburg, and Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, where she served as assistant principal.

In 1992, she became a pastoral minister in Holy Cross Parish, Rumson. Upon her retirement, she moved to St. James Convent, Red Bank, where she continued her ministry of prayer and hospitality to the people of the parish and was an active member of the “Partners of Mercy.”

Sister Mary Harold is survived by caring nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews and Sister of Mercy in the Mid-Atlantic Community.

Burial will be in Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield.

Memorial donations may be made to Sisters of Mercy Mid-Atlantic Community, 1645 Highway 22, Watchung, N.J. 07069.