A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Bertha O’Neill, D.C., was celebrated February 13, 2019, at the Seton Residence Chapel in Evansville, Ind.; burial followed at St. Joseph Cemetery, Evansville. Sister Bertha died February 8, 2019, at Seton Residence, Evansville. Sister was 91 years of age and 71 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born May 21, 1927, in Nashville, Tenn., Sister Bertha (baptized Mary Katherine) was one of three children born to John Anthony and Bertha (Gustafson) O’Neill. Sister was a 1945 graduate of Isaac Litton High School, Nashville. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Marillac College, St. Louis, Mo., in 1964; and she earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science from George Peabody College, Nashville, in 1985.
Sister Bertha entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis from Holy Name Parish, Nashville, in 1947. Following initial formation, Sister Bertha served as a Bookkeeper at St. Mary’s Hospital, Milwaukee, (1948 to 1949) and DePaul Settlement House, Chicago, (1949 to 1953). Sister next served as a Secondary Teacher at St. Ann School, Dallas, Tex., (1953 to 1963); and at Notre Dame High School, Price, Utah, (1964 to 1968). She taught Business Education at St. Joseph High School, New Orleans, La., (1968 to 1975). Sister Bertha served in the Secretariat at the former Marillac Provincialate, St. Louis, (1975 to 1977).
Next missioned to Texas, Sister served as Education Director at Marywood (Home of Holy Infancy), Austin, (1977 to 1980); and Bookkeeper at DePaul Family Center and Clinic, San Antonio, (1980 to 1982). Sister Bertha next ministered as Librarian at St. Vincent High School, Perryville, Mo., (1982 to 2002). Sister then served as a Docent at the National Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, Md., (2002 to 2005). Sister returned to St. Louis where she volunteered at Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory High School, the International Institute, and at the former Marillac Provincialate, (2005 to 2011); during this time Sister Bertha served as the Local Community Superior at the Daughters’ Oak Hill Residence, (2006 to 2011). Missioned to Nashville, Sister Bertha served as a Patient Visitor at St. Thomas West Hospital, (2012 to 2013). In 2013, Sister Bertha joined the Ministry of Prayer at Seton Residence, Evansville, where she served until the time of her death.
Sister Bertha was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, John Anthony O’Neill, Jr.; and her sister, Deloris Huttinger. She is survived by her nieces; nephews; cousins; many friends; and her Sisters in Community.