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Aging and Disabilities: Elderly Mom Gets Care from Senior-Sister Daughter

by Kathleen LaManna, staff writer

At 69 years old, Sister Mary Bartholomew Biviano, CSJ, is gearing up to leave her job at St. Francis de Sales School in Herkimer. But she isn't retiring: She's headed back to her hometown of Norwich, in the Diocese of Syracuse, to work at the parish she grew up in -- and, most importantly, to take care of her 94-year-old mother.

"She's having a lot of problems with her eyes," Sister Bart explained, noting that her mother is still able to cook her favorite Italian foods, but does so a lot more slowly than she used to.

Sister Bart will be living with her mother, helping with housework and running errands. That's a far cry from making giant hats out of wrapping paper, ribbons and balloons for her kindergartners' birthdays, something Sister Bart was famous for at St. Francis.

As a teacher for 46 years, 42 of which were in Herkimer, Sister Bart has had a lot of experience helping people, especially those who need some special care.

Before moving to Herkimer, Sister Bart taught music and art to children with cerebral palsy and mental challenges for four years in Albany.

Read the rest of the story on THE EVANGELIST website!