Sister Mary Bertille Fieber
Born to earthly life: April 19, 1918
Religious profession: August 3, 1937
Entered eternal life: August 18, 2008
Marie Fieber and her seven brothers and sisters were raised on a farm in Pittsville, WI. She was the sixth child of Albert and Elizabeth Fieber. Inspired by her SSND teachers at St. Joachim Grade School and fascinated by their big rosaries, Marie told her classmates, "I'm going to be a sister when I grow up." True to her word, she entered the convent in 1932 at age 14. While she was still in training from 1935-37 she was already in great demand as homemaker at four large Milwaukee convents where she steadily grew in the culinary skills which were her hallmark.
Her dream was fulfilled when she took her vows in 1937. Sister Bertille ended her autobiography at that point, leaving others to tell her story which they enthusiastically did at her wake service. Sister Joan Emily Kaul delivered a delightful series of anecdotes in her eulogy. Sister Ann Clare Fox told of how, as a young girl in Indiana, she did the grocery shopping for Sister Bertille. Sister always had a four-star breakfast for her on her return and then visited with her while she ate. She attributes her religious vocation to Sister's influence.
From 1937-2006 Sister Bertille was stationed at 13 convents in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, where she was truly a home maker, building community through her baking, cooking, sewing, mending for the sisters, and craft making. The aromas from her kitchen often lured tired teachers to her cookie jar for a pick up after school and a chat with Bertille. They tell of her kind, fun-loving disposition, and her readiness for a game of Scrabble whenever she could find a partner.
She was so revered that on one mission the sisters chose her as their Superior. She was abashed at the idea but the community councilor assured her that she could do the job well, and she did.
Relationships were important to Bertille who kept in touch with Paul Casper whom she met when he was 15 and she a young sister. Paul was inspired to become a Priest of the Sacred Heart because of her and tells of how she wrote to him every year. Paul was an enthusiastic celebrant at Sister Bertille's funeral Mass and filled out our picture of our beautiful sister.
Sister Joan Emily and Sister Bertille shared a mutual love of Easter. Whenever they met they would exchange an Alleluia. She closed her eulogy with "My dear Alleluia friend, the strife is o'er, the battle won. Let the song of praise be sung!" and the audience sang, "Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!"
– Mary Catherine Dundon, SSND
Sister Bertille’s positions were:
- St. Alphonsus, Chicago, IL – 1937-1940
- St. Mary, Fort Wayne, IN – 1940-1942
- St. Elizabeth, Milwaukee, WI – 1942-1951
- Holy Name, Sheboygan, WI – 1951-1954
- Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, WI – 1954-1955
- Our Lady of Lourdes, Marinette, WI – 1955-1957
- Marianum, Elm Grove, WI – 1957-1960
- Holy Childhood, Harbor Springs, MI – 1960-1961
- St. Joseph Home, Green Bay, WI – 1961-1968
- St. Mary, Elm Grove, WI – 1968-1970
- St. John, Marshfield, WI – 1970-1987
- St. Stanislaus, Berlin, WI – 1987-1990
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mt. Calvary, WI – 1990-2006 (assisted in kitchen and retired)
- St. Anne Nursing Home, Milwaukee, WI
- Notre Dame of Elm Grove, Elm Grove, WI
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