A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Gaynelle Barrett, D.C., was celebrated Jan. 20, 2015, at Seton Residence Chapel in Evansville, Ind. Burial followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Mount Carmel, Ill. Sister Gaynelle died at 100 years of age Jan. 14 at Seton Residence.
Born March 29, 1914, in Troutdale, Va., Sister Gaynelle (baptized Eva Gaynelle Mary Perkins) was one of seven children born to Daniel T. Perkins and Hannah Francis (Pugh) Perkins. She was a 1932 graduate of Gauley Bridge High School in Gauley Bridge, W.V.
Prior to entering Community, Sister Gaynelle married William Barrett. Together, they had four children. After her husband’s death, she pursued her vocation as a Daughter of Charity.
Sister Gaynelle entered the Daughters of Charity in September 1973 in Indianapolis, Ind. She celebrated 41 years of vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in September 2014.
Sister Gaynelle began her ministry as a Daughter of Charity as a parish visitor at St. John’s Mission in Charleston, Miss. (1974-1977), and in Robinson, Ill., at St. Elizabeth’s Parish (1978-1985). She then served as a patient visitor at St. Vincent Hospital in Birmingham, Ala. (1985-1987). Sister was then missioned to Evansville to serve as the coordinator of house maintenance at Mater Dei Provincialate from 1987 to 1989. She was a pastoral care associate at Warrick Hospital in Boonville, Ind. (1989-1990), and a parish minister at St. Mary’s Parish in Huntingburg, Ind. (1990-1996). In 1996, Sister began her Ministry of Prayer at Seton Residence in Evansville, where she served until the time of her death.
Sister Gaynelle is survived by her sons, Daniel (Conchita), Phillip (Emily) and Dick, and her daughter Jean Ann (Mark) Priestly; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; her Sisters in Community and many friends.