Age 96
A gentle, sweet woman, Sister Bernadette reflected the Sisters of Mercy’s values of mercy, service, compassion and advocacy.
Born in Niagara Falls, New York, she attended St. Mary Elementary and High School there. She performed clerical work briefly before entering the Sisters of Mercy in Buffalo, New York, at the age of 19. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Medaille College also in Buffalo, New York.
For 36 years, Bernadette taught in 14 parochial schools in the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, and served for one year as principal at St. Mary’s in Holley, New York. She then served as secretary to leadership in local religious congregations, the Sisters of the Divine Child for five years and the Sisters of Social Services for 15 years, and at Trocaire College in Buffalo, New York, for eight years.
She worked for Catholic Charities of Buffalo, New York, in a refugee resettlement program for two years. She volunteered in the Institute Advancement Office for nine years and at Westwood Elder Care at Canisius College for 15 years, both in Buffalo.
Bernadette had great sewing skills and made vestments as well as very dainty doll clothes used for fundraising for various charitable projects. Though her eyesight was gradually dimming, she used the computer to prepare weekly convent liturgy programs and completed her own funeral liturgy booklet just a few months before her death.