Obituary of Sister M. Bernadette Sifferlin, O.S.F.

Sister M. Bernadette Sifferlin, OSF Sister M. Bernadette Sifferlin, OSF (1925 - 2016) died at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, Joliet, Illinois on June 26, 2016. A native of Shelby, Ohio, she was one of six children born to Francis and Cornelia Sifferlin. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, John, and her sister, Rosemary. She is survived by her brothers: Carl, Roy and Ray. Sister Bernadette was a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate (Joliet) for 68 years. Before entering religious life, Sister Bernadette was a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Shelby, Ohio and attended the Parish Grade School. She graduated from Shelby High School. Sister Bernadette earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of St. Francis (University of St. Francis) Joliet, IL, a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame du Lac in Notre Dame, IN. Sister Bernadette began her ministry in the field of education in 1950 at St. Mary Parish, Des Plaines, Illinois. From 1952 - 1959 she taught at Immaculate Conception in Toledo, Ohio. In 1959 she went to St. Ann in Lansing, Illinois where she taught 8th grade. In 1962 she became Assistant to the Congregation's General Treasurer and served in that position for ten years. In 1972 she was elected to the Congregation Governing Board and served as a Councilor and Area Coordinator. She assumed the position of General Treasurer of the Congregation in 1976, serving in that position for twenty years. In 1996 she became Parish Receptionist and Secretary for St. Jude's Parish in Joliet, IL until 2005 when she moved into Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home. The wake for Sister Bernadette will be at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, 1201 Wyoming Avenue, Joliet, IL, (Wyoming and Rt. 30) on Friday, July 1, 2016 from 2:00 - 6:45 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 4:45 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Procession will leave from Our Lady of Angels on Saturday morning, July 2, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. The Interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville, IL. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, 1433 Essington Road, Joliet, IL 60435.