For the first time since I began the search into my history, I became moved spiritually by the finding of an unknown relative. I was researching a collateral branch of the family and came across Suzanne Bertsch. She was present in the 1910 census, but then seemingly disappeared.
I did a little more research and found her to be a Catholic Nun. She was a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame, in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province at Covington, Kentucky. She served our religion for seventy of her nearly 90 years and no matter what I write, I cannot write anything nearly as beautiful as the words written in her obituary, or the thoughts from the homily of her nephew, the Reverend Leo Schmidt at her Burial Mass.
Before their writings, I would like to say that the thoughts written for the Sister made me examine my own spirituality and begin practicing the faith I have been away from for more than a decade. Sometimes, in examining our history, we find we can learn some important lessons from our own past.
I also want to take a moment to thank Sister Joan Terese Niklas, S.N.D., archivist for the Sisters of Notre Dame in Covington, Kentucky, for all of the assistance she has provided.
Some thoughts from the Homily of Reverend Leo Schmidt at the Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Mary Romilda, S.N.D. – Aug. 17. 1987
In Biblical literature we often find the word “tent”. These were the dwelling places of nomads so they could be picked up and carried off to other lands when they were routed by their enemies or in peaceful times had to find better pasture lands for their flocks. Even John in his Gospel says God came to pitch His tent on earth with us so as to dwell with us. Paul says: “We know that when the earthly tent in which we dwell is destroyed, we have a dwelling provided for us by God, a dwelling in the heavens, not made by hands but to last forever.”
Sister Mary Romilda had thirty-three nephews and very many grandnieces and nephews. To all of us we find the above as appropriate. We saw Sister as one who traveled lightly. She had many different assignments. She knew where she was going, and she was a woman who knew what her life was about; she went in obedience. She loved her Community, her Church, her God, and she loved the many people she knew far and wide.
There are many stories we could tell about her. Maybe I could just recall a few that symbolize her life. I can remember sitting on the porch in Linwood, feeding the birds, or drinking fresh lemonades at St. Augustine’s in Covington; visiting her in Augusta so close to the river or visiting her in Bardstown where she was assisting the old people; or reading her letters about the floods in Harlan or her teaching the Indians in Winnebago. She was in many places and she always loved children. She had a special talent for teaching them, which she loved to do.
Just this past July Fourth there came to visit her a gentleman whom she taught in the sixth grade in Cheviot. Sister told me, “He recalled a terrible downpour and the drains got clogged up. He was surprised I didn’t even call the janitor but instead put on my blue apron and worked and worked until I had it cleaned out. I have no recollection of the incident. We might ask what opening up drains has to do with spreading God’s kingdom. We are all engaged in doing the important things, but it was typical of Sister to do the things that had to be done, not bothering about whether anyone saw it. I see her as someone who loved God, doing every day what she was expected to do, with a smile on her face.
Our family all loved to visit her wherever she was for it was always a treat to be with her and there were so many ways in which she pleased us. In later years when she was able to make home visits, she loved our big family reunions. She remembered every one and whom they went with and what they were interested in. It was her gift to love life, and she never forgot anniversaries and special occasions. When she couldn’t be there, she remembered us with letters and always decorated it, using crayons to make lilies or roses, etc. so that it would be something personal from her.
As we bid her goodbye tonight, we all know we have something to celebrate–her living religious life for seventy years. Every job is important, but there are few jobs with the lasting influence of thousands of young people who went through her classroom. She certainly has something beautiful to bring along with her to God. How she appreciated her Community and how much she enjoyed her Jubilee celebration less than a week before her death! Scripture tells us there is a special feast prepared for us. She has folded up her tent and gone to God because she saw God as her Truth and her Life, and she never wavered in her trust of the deep peace that we believe she now has and enjoys.
Obituary of Sister Mary Romilda Bertsch
The joyfully expectant Advent season of 1897 witnessed the arrival of little Suzanne into the family of Frank and Appolonia (Hoffman) Bertsch, whose home was situated in the one-time small country hamlet of Cold Spring, Kentucky. Two brothers and a sister were there to welcome her on that December 9, and four more children arrived in after years to complete the happy family circle. One boy eventually became a Franciscan priest, Reverend Luke Bertsch, now deceased. Suzanne was baptized at St. Joseph Church and also attended the parish school when of age.
Although Suzanne did not receive her First Holy Communion until she was 13 years of age, she was prepared for her First Confession in grade two. At that time all went to Confession in the German language, a custom which devastated Suzanne and caused bitter tears to flow on the evening prior to her day–she didn’t know how to confess her sins in German! But her good mother came to the rescue by delegating her older brother, the future Father Luke, to assist her. During the years following, she displayed an inclination toward the sisterhood by playing school, dressing like a sister with an ingenious type of headgear and a rosary dangling by her side, building and decorating altars. Cognizant of this attraction her father provided a stationary altar in the dining room cupboard where the family began to gather for the evening rosary.
Thus the years passed enveloped in that beautiful Catholic atmosphere of wholesome family life, love of God and of one another, an atmosphere enabling Suzanne to transform her childish attraction toward religious life into a mature reality. Through the advice of her teacher, Sister Mary Euphrasia, S.N.D., Suzanne and her lifelong companion, Hilda Kroger (deceased Sister Mary Irenas), joined the Aspirant school in Covington in the autumn of 1913 and entered the novitiate on February 2, 1915.
Already as a postulant she taught at St. Joseph Heights School and jokingly remarked that she was getting her dally exercise by walking from 5th Street to the Heights and back again–quite a distance!
Suzanne was invested on July 13 receiving the name of Sister Mary Romilda, and made her first vows on July 17, 1917. Thereafter, her teaching apostolate extended to our schools in the Covington Diocese and the Cincinnati Archdiocese. Sister also spent several years at St. Augustine Indian Mission in Winnebago, Nebraska in the capacity of teacher and matron. (We no longer staff this Mission.) When our Kentucky apostolate expanded to embrace the Appalachian Mountain area, Sister became a pioneer at Holy Trinity School in Harlan, fulfilling the roles of teacher, principal and local superior. Her last year of activity was spent at St. Monica Parish in Bardstown, Kentucky where she was engaged in catechetical instruction and ministering to the poor in the area.
Sister Mary Romilda retired to the provincial House in 1975 continuing to render services wherever possible, always with her typical heart-warming smile. Since walking had become more difficult because of her arthritic condition, Sister joined the Lourdes Hall (infirmary) community in 1982 still eager to proffer her services, interested in all things and retaining her pleasant disposition, which had captivated people throughout the years. She delighted in reading and in reminiscing about her days as a teacher. Precious in her sight was the book containing the names of all the children she had taught, and her daily prayers for them was truly a litany of intercession with the Good God.
In November of 1985 her brother, Father Luke, OFM, died at the age of ninety and sister was able to attend the Funeral Liturgy at St. Francis Seraph Church in Cincinnati, but after that there was a steady decline in her health. When the year 1987 dawned, Sister Mary Romilda felt certain she would not live to celebrate the 70th anniversary of her Profession in July, but the Lord had other plans. Our community celebration of all the Jubilees was held on June 20 and thereafter Sister’s thoughts centered persistently on death and she requested the sisters to pray the prayers for the dying with her. Since she also expressed the desire to receive the Sacrament of Anointing, her nephew, Rev. Leo Schmidt, came on June 22 to administer that special grace. She rallied somewhat after the Anointing and even though she was anxious to go home to God and her usual parting words to visitors were, “This might be the last time you’ll see me alive,” she now did want to be with us for the public jubilee celebration on August 8. The great day came and even though she could not participate in the Eucharistic Liturgy at our neighboring St. Agnes Church, she did enjoy the visit with her relatives.
The last days preceding death were dominated by a state of confusion as she talked almost constantly, reliving the past events of her life especially classroom episodes. In the dawning hours of August 14, sometime between 4 and 6 a.m., our dear Jubilarian of Grace smiled her lovliest and slipped off to heaven silently and alone to meet her Bridegroom of 70 years.
Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated on August 17 at 7:30 p.m. by Rev. Leo Schmidt, Rev. Charles Weber and Rev. James Ryan. In attendance were her sister, Elizabeth Schmidt, her brothers Charles, Lawrence and Louis, many nieces and nephews, friends and sisters.
The homily was delivered by Father Schmidt who said in part: “I saw Sister as someone who traveled lightly. She knew where she was going and she was a woman who knew what life was all about; she went in obedience. She loved her Community, her Church, her God, and she loved the many people she knew far and wide….She always loved children and had a special talent for teaching them….I see her as someone who loved God, doing every day what she was expected to do, with a smile on her face. She loved her big family and its reunions. It was her gift to love life, and she never forgot anniversaries and special occasions….As we bid her goodbye tonight, we all know we have something to celebrate–her living religious life for seventy years. Every job is important, but there are few jobs with the lasting influence of thousands of young people who went through her classroom. She certainly had something beautiful to bring along with her to God….She has folded up her tent and gone home to God because she saw God as her Truth and her Life, and she never wavered in her trust of the deep peace that we believe she now has and enjoys.”
That Father was keenly aware of his aunt’s sterling qualities is quite evident from the above. The community as a whole reiterates his words in paying tribute to our dear sister who will continue to remember each of us before the throne of God just as she did her beloved pupils here on earth.
May she rest in peace!
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