Sister Mary Bernarda

Helen Genevieve Gilfether

1908-2007

The arrival of Helen Genevieve brought great joy to her loving parents, James Ambrose Gilfether and Marie Elizabeth Cramerling, on August 18, 1908, in the city of Oakland, California. Her parents were proud San Franciscans but were forced out of house and home at the time of the great earthquake and fire. Her brother, Cyril, was born during that tragic period of California history, and the family moved to Oakland. The two children were part of this happy home and bonded in a life-time of deep friendship.

Due to the distance from the Gilfether home and the closest parochial school, Sacred Heart School, it was decided that Helen would attend a neighboring public school until she completed the fourth grade. A personal visit from the pastor, Monsignor Sampson, persuaded her parents that she was now old enough to walk to Sacred Heart School! After completing her elementary education, Helen attended Saint Francis de Sales High School. In the month of May 1926, prior to her graduation, Helen wrote to Mother Mary Angeline, Provincial Superior, asking to enter the Novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Names. She and her best friend, Winifred Scott, began their religious life on August 15, 1926. Helen received the religious name of Sister Mary Bernarda and Winifred that of Sister Mary Loretta Rose.

After her profession of vows on January 10, 1929, Sister Mary Bernarda’s fifty-two years in elementary education began! The listing of schools in which she ministered during her life of total dedication to education staggers the imagination!  Sister taught grades two, three, four, five and six in schools both in Northern and Southern California. Besides keeping her students interested in the academics, Sister Mary Bernarda loved sports! Several men who had been her students at Saint Elizabeth School in Altadena recalled her love for baseball and that she played a good game with them “way back when!” Beginning in 1945, Sister Mary Bernarda began her service as Principal in seven different schools, as well as teaching the eighth grade, especially for thirteen of those years at her beloved Saint Monica School in San Francisco.

Could one possibly calculate the number of children she loved and influenced during those years as teacher and principal? How many families were assisted by her compassion, her good sense, her spirituality, and her gracious presence? Bishop John Cummins was one of her fifth graders whom she taught in Saint Augustine School. What a life-long friendship! She remained the teacher, and he, the pupil!

When her formal teaching years were completed in 1970, her service as Convent Superior brought her to Los Gatos for two years. However, in 1972 until 1979 her ministry was again as Principal at Saint Monica School in San Francisco. She was welcomed where she was known and loved!

She even met the children of students whom she had taught in 1929! Her positive, upbeat expression had not changed…”Everything is wonderful, just wonderful!”

Education was an integral part of Sister Bernarda’s life! How could she possibly slow down, or stop! Remedial reading was the thing she could do now in her 70’s! For the next two years she shared her gifts with the children at St. Joseph School in San Francisco. She then returned to Saint Monica School in1981 to tutor students in need of a little extra help and gave her support in many areas around the Convent until, in 1995, her gracious presence became an essential part of the Retirement Community at Los Gatos. Now, “being in charge” shifted to the nursing staff and the Sisters on her floor. She often referred to the days when “she ran Ramona Convent” or “ran the Province”. She welcomed visitors, recalled that she taught them, expressed her love in various ways, and made all feel very much at home! She always remained the dedicated educator in her heart and speech.                                                                                                               Sister was a loyal friend to many Sisters with whom she lived over the years. Whenever they found a time to visit, the group would enjoy each other’s company! Her circle of friends, to name but a few, included Sister Margaret Miller, Sister Mary Claudine, Sister Monica Perry, Sister Regina Sullivan, Sister Helen O’Sullivan and, of course, Sister M. Loretta Rose. God called most of them home long before she herself was called by her loving Creator. Each one’s loss was keenly felt by Sister Bernarda.

In 2004, at age 96, Sister celebrated her seventy-fifth jubilee! On that occasion, Sister Margaret Spiller, Provincial, proclaimed that the book of Daniel promises that the wise shall shine brightly…and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever. “Today we honor you, Sister Mary Bernarda, as a star, a star of the first magnitude, the brightest in the heavens, a beacon for all of us. May you continue to shine among us and experience special blessings throughout your jubilee year.”

Sister walked the corridors of the Care Center unassisted and still could swirl in dance. During her life she moved easily in and out of a dance step which she loved! She enjoyed a celebration, a party for any occasion, and often became the center of attention with her song and dance routine!

She did not make it to her 100^th year of life, though she had expressed the hope that she would!  God called her by name on December 7, 2007 in the 99^th year of life and the 78^th year of her religious profession. Sister Mary Bernarda had left a note requesting that Bishop John Cummins be the presider for her funeral and that she did not wish any reflections on her life on that occasion. Unfortunately, the Bishop had a previous commitment out of town and was not able to be present. Reverend Francis Stiegeler, S.J., also a former pupil and friend, was asked to celebrate her Mass of Resurrection.

On the evening of December 12, 2007, Sister Mary Bernarda’s family, friends, former colleagues, past students, religious Sisters and Associates gathered in the Chapel of Convent of the Holy Names, Los Gatos. One of the highlights of the evening was a different type of “Reflections” on her life. The program duplicated seven verses of a clever, musical arrangement about Sister Bernarda composed by the talented Sister Miriam Jeanne Murphy on the occasion of her 50th jubilee. “May her travels through life ever be filled with grace, peace, and joy for her whole life through!” was the closing wish!

Sister Dorothy Nolan in her homily gave a very insightful comment on Saint Matthew’s Gospel: “We hear Jesus praising and elevating mere children to a place of highest honor—as those who people heaven. I have always been intrigued by this passage—children who are at the beginning of the human life line—children who are the most vulnerable of the human family. Why children? Why not scholars? Why not philanthropists? Why not great and compassionate world and church leaders? Children…they teach us about living only in the present moment and so belong in the Reign of God. There was something very child-like about Sister Bernarda. The child in her could connect with children instantaneously. Whenever we brought children down her hallway or into the Solarium, the light went on! Children brought her into the Divine.”

The presider, Reverend Francis Stiegeler, S.J., took the opportunity to speak of his love for Sister Bernarda over many years. He spoke of her kindness to him and to all with whom she taught or met. Her warmth, caring and concern were personal hallmarks throughout her long life. May she now be embraced by the tender arms of her God. What a history of availability, of dedication, of educational and community leadership! What a reward awaits her

 Sister Emily Marie McKernan