Aston, PA — Sister Bernadette Francis Bremmer, OSF, died in Assisi House on December 15. She was eighty-five years of age and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for sixty-six years. Sister Bernadette Francis (Virginia Monica Bremmer) was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where she was a member of Holy Ghost Parish. She entered the congregation in 1938 and professed her first vows in 1940. Sister Bernadette ministered primarily in domestic work. In addition to cooking in the convents where she lived during the school term, she also ministered wherever a need arose during the summer months, for example, at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston, Pennsylvania; at the House of Studies at Catholic University in Washington, DC; and at St. Michael Home in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. After she retired she also assisted with mailings at Holy Ghost Rectory in Bethlehem. Sister Bernadette enjoyed raising plants, decorating, and doing needlework.
Sister Bernadette Francis ministered for thirty-six years in the Diocese of Allentown. Twenty of those years were spent serving in her home parish—Holy Ghost Convent (1971-1991). She also ministered at St. Lawrence Convent, Catasauqua (1940-1944); St. Mary Convent, Catasauqua (1962-1965); SS. Peter and Paul Convent, Lehighton (1965-1971); and Sacred Heart Convent, Allentown (1991-1994).
Sister Bernadette’s thirty years of service in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia included ministering at St. Elizabeth Convent (1939-1940); St. Alphonsus Convent (1944-1946); Resurrection Convent, Chester (1947-1951); St. Stanislaus Convent, Lansdale (1951-1952); Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Convent, Doylestown (1952-1960); St. Aloysius Convent, Pottstown (1960-1961); and Our Lady of Angels Convent, Aston (1961-1962). In 1994 Sister Bernadette moved to Assisi House in Aston where she served in prayer ministry until her death.
Sister Bernadette Francis also ministered for a short time in the Diocese of Metuchen,at St. Joseph Convent in Raritan, New Jersey (1946-1947).
All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, on Tuesday, December 19. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Bernadette Francis is survived by her brother, John Bremmer of Allentown; her sister Jeanette Keim of Bethlehem; her nieces and nephews; and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to Franciscan Ministries Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.
