Age 93
Living a life dedicated to Christ, Sister Bernadette was indefatigable.
Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, to New England Irish Catholic parents, she first encountered the Sisters of Mercy when she enrolled at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in Titusville, Pennsylvania, at the age of 21. She also had a master’s degree in education from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
A dedicated educator, she taught elementary school for six years in Pittsburgh and Erie before becoming principal of Saint Luke’s School in Erie, Pennsylvania, for 17 years and St. George School in Erie, Pennsylvania, for eight years. For four years, she supervised the parochial schools staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. During summers, she enjoyed directing the Head Start program in Erie and serving children in Appalachia.
After teaching education for four years at Mercyhurst University, she moved to Boston to be one of the elementary school directors in the Archdiocese of Boston. Elected to community leadership, she served eight years as regional vice president and three years as president of the former Erie Regional Community.
She served on nine ministry boards within the Sisters of Mercy, as well as Erie L’Arche, an inclusive community for people with disabilities. The Erie Serra Club named her Diocesan Religious Woman of the Year, and she was among those recognized as Women Making History. Mercyhurst University named her to their distinguished alumni list. Never retiring, she continued her service to the Sisters of Mercy in Erie as motherhouse coordinator and as local development director until her death.