Sister Bernie, who served Mansfield St. Peter's for six decades, dies at age 97

JOLIET, Illinois ― Sister Bernard Marie Campbell, a well-loved nun who served Mansfield St. Peter's Parish for six decades, has died. She was 97.

The Congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate (Joliet Franciscans) announced Sister Bernard Marie Campbell, OSF, died early Wednesday morning.

She had been in failing health and died peacefully in her sleep, according to a news release from Mansfield St. Peter's spokesman Jason Crundwell Wednesday afternoon. “St. Peter’s was blessed to have Sister Bernie as a part of the St. Peter’s parish and school community for six decades,” said Father John Miller, pastor of St. Peter Parish.  “Her love of Christ showed daily through her vocation as a Sister of St. Francis and in her classroom as a teacher.  Her legacy will continue to live on here for many years.”

Sister Bernard Marie Campbell was born Sept. 7, 1925, in Joliet, Illinois, to Bernard & Evelyn (Baskerville) Campbell.  She was the oldest of four — a sister, Patricia, and two brothers, Tom and Robert Campbell.

Sister Bernie joined religious order in 1942

She attended high school at St. Francis Academy, where she first encountered the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate.  When she was a senior in high school, she had a calling that God wanted her to join the sisters, the news release said.

In September 1942, she joined the order.  She attended the College of St. Francis in Joliet before being sent on her first mission to St. Peter’s School in 1946.  She lived with many other sisters on the top floor of the elementary school building.  She taught for nine years in the school before being transferred in 1955. She served at schools in Chicago and Columbus before returning to St. Peter’s in 1963 and remaining there until September 2015.

During her 61 years of service to St. Peter’s School, she taught several subjects including history, algebra, theology, and photography.  However, most students will remember her teaching in the chemistry and physics labs.

In 1996, she transitioned from the classroom to serve in the school’s Development Office.  She was instrumental in raising $3 million to build the Franciscan Activity Center in 1999 and the funds needed to renovate the high school science wing in 2008, which was named in her honor.

“Sister Bernie was a unique and driving force at St. Peter’s,” said St. Peter’s Head of School, Laurie McKeon.  “Not only did she teach generations of students, but her quick wit, passion for Catholic education, and remarkable ability to raise both funds and friends made her a legend. Her impact on the parish and school is lasting and indelible.”

Sister Bernie was a huge supporter of the Spartans, attending as many events as possible.  She was also a huge fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Sister Bernie also organized an annual Birthday Bash in September in honor of parishioners aged 75 and older.

By 2015, Sister Bernie Campbell, along with Sister Paula Bingert, a 1943 alumna of St. Peter’s High School, were the last two Joliet Franciscans living in the school convent. That fall, they were called back to live at Our Lady of the Angels Retirement Home in Joliet, ending the Sisters of St. Francis’ 144 years of continuous service to St. Peter’s and the Mansfield community. The parish honored both Sisters Bernie and Paula with a Celebration of Presence and Service that more than 1,000 people attended.

Sister Bernie loved St. Peter's and Mansfield community

Both sisters said at the time that they could remember when the halls of St. Peter’s School were filled with nuns. At its peak, there were 33 sisters living and teaching at St. Peter’s School, they told the News Journal in 2015.

When Sister Bernie came there were 33 Sisters. Twelve nuns slept on the top floor of the grade school in a big dorm with curtains around the beds and the stands. Others were in a classroom on the third floor and yet more stayed in the House of Seven Gables, located where the grade school playground is now., Campbell told the News Journal in 2015.

“When we’d go over to Mass in the morning there’d be a line of Sisters and the two youngest ones would be leading and we’d be all the way to the front steps of the church and the last ones were just coming out of the house, there were that many,” she said.

The Joliet Franciscans first came to Mansfield in August 1871, just three years after St. Peter’s School opened. The first two nuns were Sister Ignatius Baker and Sister Lucy Raub. Over the next 144 years, more than 400 Sisters have ministered to God’s people at St. Peter’s totaling over 2,000 years of service. The peak was in 1965 when 33 sisters were assigned to St. Peter’s.

Sister Bernie told the News Journal in 2015 that it was the end of an era.

“Our Sisters came in 1871 and they were here steadily for 144 years and now we’re leaving, reluctantly,” she said.

“It feels like I’m leaving home again,” Sister Bernie said as she prepared to leave Mansfield. “This is a life-changing experience. I’m going to have to do some getting used to it. In the first place I’m going back to my hometown. But I know Mansfield more than I do Joliet. I’m leaving all my good friends behind, all the former students and their families. I’ve had at least three, maybe four generations in some cases of people. The kids that were in my first class are in their 80s,” she told the News Journal in 2015.

Sister Bernie would have celebrated her 80th Jubilee as a Sister of St. Francis Mary Immaculate this year.

Details on funeral arrangements are pending but will take place in Joliet and will be available online via livestream.  A memorial Mass will also be planned in her honor at St. Peter Church.  She will also be honored before Friday night’s home basketball game with Mansfield Christian.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Joliet (jolietfranciscans.org/donate-now) or to the Sister Bernie Marie Campbell Chair of Science through the Monsignor Edward C. Dunn Foundation for Education (msgrdunnfoundation.org/donate-to-the-foundation).

lwhitmire@gannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @LWhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Sister Bernie served Mansfield St. Peter's for six decades