Sister Mary Bernadette Hayden R.S.M
BIDDEFORD – Sister Mary Bernadette Hayden, R.S.M. formerly called Sister Mary Berchmans Rose, of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas died Jan. 27, 2022, at St. Joseph’s Convent, 409 Pool St., Biddeford, at 93 years of age.
She was born in South Brewer, the youngest child of Harry Milton Hayden and Rose Elizabeth (Paulette) Hayden. Her early education was at St. Theresa’s School, in South Brewer and Brewer High School, graduating in 1946.
Sister entered the Sisters of Mercy in Portland in 1949 and made her profession of First Vows in 1951 and Final Vows in 1954. She has been a Sister of Mercy for 73 years.
She was a graduate of St. Joseph’s College, Standish, earning a B.A. in Business Education. She taught in the parochial schools of the Diocese of Portland: St Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s in Portland; St. Mary’s and St. John’s in Bangor; St. Mary’s in Houlton and in Westbrook; St. Theresa’s, South Brewer; Immaculate Conception, Calais; and Catherine McAuley High School, Portland. During her years as an educator, she prepared many to fulfill their professional lives.
From 1974 until 1997, Sisters held the position of Executive Secretary to the President of St. Joseph’s College and served as staff person on the College’s Board of Overseers. Sister Bernadette worked with four presidents during her tenure at St. Joseph’s College. Sister retired from the active apostolate in 1999 but continued in volunteering as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at the Maine Medical Center, tutoring individuals and visitation of the elderly and the ill.
In addition to the members of her religious community, Sister is survived by several nieces, nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; and cousins.
She was predeceased by her parents Harry and Rose; two brothers, Merritt Hayden and William Hayden and two sisters, Venita Hayden Lowery and Teresa Hayden Mazerolle.
Visiting hours will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31, at Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. The Prayer Service will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/ConroyTullyWalker Prayers will be recited on Tuesday, Feb. 1, in the chapel at 10:15 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Ave, Portland, with The Most Rev. Robert P. Deeley, J.C.D., as Principal Celebrant. Rev. Phillip M. Tracy will be the homilist. The Mass will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/ConroyTullyWalker and at http://www.ladyofhopemaine.org Burial will follow in the New Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. To view Sister Bernadette’s obituary page, or to share an online condolence, please visit http://www.ConroyTullyWalker.com
For those who wish, contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the
Maine Right to Life Committee,
P.O. Box 257,
Auburn, ME 04212
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