In Loving Memory...

Sister Bernadette Marie, CSC
(Eleanor Teresa Downey)
Birth: August 1, 1907
Profession: January 6, 1936
Death: March 4, 2004

There probably is a patron saint for secretaries. I do not know, but I would like to name Sister Bernadette Marie for that celestial position. Her qualifications would impress everyone on the heavenly board. She spent her entire religious life at Saint Mary’s College, 36 years as secretary to the president of the college – five of them in all – beginning with Sister Madeleva. She was the perfect secretary, a good typist, a master of the English language, and a good keeper of secrets. The sisters with whom she lived never learned anything about conditions or problems at the college. Not a thing.

She was a warm, friendly and loving companion. Eleanor Downey, called Nellie by family and friends, was born August 1, 1907, in Saint Joseph, Missouri, to Michael Downey and his wife Eleanor (also called Nellie) Welch. She was the sixth child in a family that would eventually number eight. Her elementary and secondary school education was completed at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Atchison, Kansas. She then spent a year at Gard’s Business School in Saint Joseph. After graduation she found a position doing secretarial work for lawyers.

She learned about Holy Cross from her sister Catherine (Sister John Berchmans, who during the administration of Mother Rose Elizabeth, started the Campus School). She also learned about Holy Cross from a young Father Buddy who had two sisters in Holy Cross. At the age of 26 she entered the novitiate. She received the habit January 6, 1934, made first vows in 1936 and final vows on August 15, 1939.

For 49 years she worked at the college as secretary to Sister Madeleva and the four presidents following, and then for 12 years, she organized and directed the college archives. She also did the obituaries for the sisters. It was a different world. The student body numbered 310. She grew with the college. She saw a “better rapport” develop with the South Bend community.

Originally, she was assigned to Sister Mary Frederick, who was then dean of studies. Madeleva’s secretary was Mother Gertrude, who was subsequently elected to the general council as a half-time secretary, continuing to work part-time for Sister Madeleva. When the latter needed a full-time secretary the job fell to Bernie, “because,” as she said, “she worked across the hall.” There she stayed during Sister Madeleva’s tenure and that of her four successors. Sister Agnella enjoyed teasing her about not being sent out on mission. In fact during her pre-retirement days, the only move she made was across a hall.

In 1971 she left the president’s office and undertook a new job – one that demanded all her powers of organization. She became director of the college archives – but first she had to organize them. All this she had to do without a computer, though she finally accepted an electric typewriter. No sooner were they well organized, than she had to help plan for the quarters in the new Cushwa-Leighton Library, and to direct the move. In 1985, she retired. They gave her a wonderful party and, as a gift, a combination radio and tape recorder with tapes.

She was such an organized person, but she had the most interesting hobbies. She enjoyed Masterpiece Theater every Sunday night. I remember watching Poldark with her and also The Palisars. When sisters downstairs watched Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy, or whatever was popular at that time, she went to the second floor and watched what was then the Mac Neil-Lehrer Report. She utilized her retirement gift especially to enjoy the Saturday afternoon opera, and at other times to enjoy the tapes. That joy continued the rest of her life. She also loved to read. She retained her interest in the college and the library by her enthusiastic participation in the “Adopt-a-Nun” program.

She remained easy to live with, quiet – never bossy – and a gentle tease. People say she never said an unkind word about anyone. She definitely was not a stereotype of any one kind of being – just a gentle, quiet, loving woman, who also happened to be in the word of our old Rule, “a generous, elevated, ardent and heroic” sister whose going leaves an “empty place against the sky.”

Now she has really moved. She is with her family again, and because heaven is perfection, she will not have to do any organizing. May she thoroughly enjoy it.

Written by Sister M. Campion, CSC

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry With the Poor Fund, Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.