Sr. Marie Bernadette is remembered at Memorial

Photo courtesy of Kay Hamilton

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Holy Cross Sister Marie Bernadette Rogers dresses in the Holy Cross habit when she took her final vows Aug. 15, 1963.

SALT LAKE CITY — Holy Cross Sister Marie Bernadette (Judy) Rogers, 69, died peacefully Oct. 14, with her family and friends at her side at Saint Mary’s Convent in South Bend, Ind.

Sr. Marie Bernadette was born Aug. 11, 1939, to Jay and Mildred Rogers in Salt Lake City. She graduated from Judge Memorial Catholic High School in 1957, and joined the Order of Holy Cross Sisters. She professed her final vows Aug. 15, 1963. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in education from the University of Portland. She received her Master’s Degree in Administration from the University of San Francisco.

Sr. Marie Bernadette focused her ministry in elementary education for 22 years. Then she ministered as an elementary school principal from 1980 to 1992, at Saint Agnes in Los Angeles, Calif., and Saint Matthews in San Mateo, Calif. She moved back to Salt Lake City to take care of her mother while keeping her ministry as a teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Salt Lake City, for five years. She then worked for Catholic Community Services.

Later she helped start the Welcome Center in Salt Lake City to provide prayer, socialization, education, and celebration. After the Welcome Center closed, Sr. Marie Bernadette moved to Seattle, Wash., and ministered at Providence Hospitality House, a shelter for mothers and their children who were homeless.

Sr. Marie Bernadette had an unexpected illness and returned to Saint Mary’s Convent at Notre Dame, Ind. She was a person of many talents, of which her greatest was her loving ways for all to whom she ministered, worked with, and her family.

She is survived by her sisters, Pat (Dick) Deitrich, Kay Hamilton; brother, Mark (Glenda) Rogers; 17 nieces and nephews; and 26 grand-nieces and nephews, whom she loved very much and who loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jay and Mildred Rogers; brothers, John, Jim, Dean, Paul; sister, Ruthann.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Nov. 1, 2008, at 5:30 p.m., at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 670 South 1100 East, Salt Lake City.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Providence Hospitality House, P.O. Box 22382, Seattle, Wash. 98122.