Age 100
Sister Pierre Dembinski was a Sister of Mercy for 72 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Mercyhurst College (Univ.) and pursued further university studies at Cornell, Eastern Michigan, Mercy College in Detroit, St. Mary’s in San Antonio. Sister Pierre also received certifications in library science from Edinboro State University; pastoral counseling from Presbyterian Seminary in Pittsburgh; and cosmetology from the Pittsburgh School of Cosmetology.
Sister Pierre taught elementary schools in the Erie and Pittsburgh Catholic Dioceses for 15 years. Her interests and gifts led her to supervise the food operations at Mercyhurst College for six years, then on to minister in the Pittsburgh Diocese at St. Alphonsus, Springdale, St. John, Pittsburgh, and Mt. St. Peter Church in New Kensington, where she served in the roles of parish social minister, program director, and pastoral minister for 20 years.
Prior to her retirement, Sister Pierre was a receptionist at Saint Mary’s Home, Erie. She coordinated the Prayer Shawl Ministry at the Motherhouse and sang in the choir until the last weeks of her life.