SINSINAWA — Sister Bernadette Durand, OP (Mary Nazaire), died July 21, 2012, at St. Dominic Villa. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa July 26, 2012, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Bernadette taught for 37 years and served as principal for 11 years, pastoral minister for nine years, and administrative assistant for nine years. She made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican March 8, 1934, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1937. Sister Bernadette served in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Colorado and Mississippi.
In the Diocese of Madison, Sister Bernadette served as administrative assistant at the Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, 1979-1982.
Sister Bernadette was born Jan. 19, 1915, in Faribault, Minn., the daughter of Cyrille and Olivine (Rousseau) Durand. Her parents; four sisters, Sister Olive Durand, OP, Loretta Larson, Florione Rossez, and Rosamond Gaffney; and five brothers, Benjamin Durand, Treffla Durand, Msgr. Arthur Durand, Thomas Durand, and Albert Durand, preceded her in death. She is survived by nieces, nephews and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared life for 78 years.
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Rd. Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or online at www.sinsinawa.org by clicking on “Donate to Us,” then “Honors and Memorials.”
Repeat broadcasts of the wake and funeral for Sister Judy are available online at www.Sinsinawa.org/live. Click on the “on demand” tab.