Born to Eternal Life We commend to your charity the soul of our beloved Age: 86 years, 7 months, 29 days Funeral: Memorial Mass December 28, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. On a cloudy, rainy Saturday afternoon in Advent, Sister Bernadette completed her earthly journey as she followed the star into the loving embrace of her Provident God. She was going home for Christmas. Our own Sisters and the Ursulines had been with her round the clock in these past couple of weeks. They had kept vigil, praying with her, singing, recalling memories of past times. Though she slept a lot, she seemed very alert while awake, knowing who was there with her, often calling us by name. In the last few days of her life she was very peaceful and continued to say “God is so good to me.” Sister Bernadette was born in Bonnets Mill, MO. It was there that she met the Sisters of Divine Providence and entered religious life in February of 1941. Sister Bernadette served thirty-two years in elementary schools in Missouri and Illinois, both as teacher and principal. She held degrees in both Mathematics and Religious Education. She served as the Community's Novice Director from 1960- 1970, during the changing times of Vatican II. She often remarked that she hoped her novices understood that those were trying times for all in formation ministry and that they forgave her for anything she might have done that hurt them. Sister Bernadette also served a term of community leadership as a Provincial Council member from 1975-1980. She returned to parish life, visiting the elderly and shut-ins of St. Mary's Parish in Madison, IL . There she ministered to people, touched their hearts and enriched their lives over the course of fifteen years. When she retired she moved to St. Clare's Villa in Alton, where she continued this ministry of eldercare by phone. Many people have been the recipients of that phone ministry which she continued even after moving to the Ursuline Sisters Infirmary. Though her physical body was slowly declining, her generous dedication to the people of her beloved St. Mary's Parish and to all her other friends never wavered. Almost until the end of her life, she listened to the voice messages on her answering machine. “She could still pray for them,” she said. It is fitting that the Gospel for the day she met her God was Mary's “Magnificat.” Sister Bernadette proclaimed the goodness of God and rejoiced in her Savior. She took one very quiet last breath and went on her journey heavenward. God has looked upon this servant and called her home to celebrate a life well-lived. The phone lines are now always open; no busy signals! I am sure she would love to hear from us! April 23
|
