Sister Regina Marie's Services
Private Mass of Resurrection at Sacred Heart Convent, Monday, January 18; private burial, Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Tuesday, January 19. A memorial mass will be held at Sacred Heart Convent at a later date.
Memorials to honor the memory of Sister Regina Marie may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL, 62704. The Dominican Sisters and family of Sister Regina Marie are served by Butler Funeral Homes.
Springfield Dominican Sister Regina Marie Bernet, OP, died suddenly, Thursday, January 14, 2021, at Sacred Heart Convent. She was born in Springfield in 1934 to Albert and Jennie (Otto) Bernet and baptized Marilyn Ann. She joined the Dominicans in 1954 and professed her vows in 1955 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield, Ill.
With her customary gentleness and patience Sister Regina Marie influenced countless children and adults over a lifetime of ministry as an educator, art therapist, counselor, and spiritual guide. For 35 years she taught in or administered parochial schools in Chicago, Evergreen Park, Decatur, Irwin, Elgin, Algonquin, and Springfield, Ill. For 5 years she was regional director for Rainbows for All God’s Children and spent several of those years as director of sisters in temporary vows. She then employed her art therapy degree and certification in gerontology to counsel and guide her own Dominican Sisters who were transitioning to retirement and to accompany women and men incarcerated in central Illinois prisons.
Sister Regina Marie was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Robert and Richard Bernet. She is survived by her brother Eugene (Kathie) Bernet, and her sisters-in-law, Betty (Robert) Bernet, and Rita (Richard) Bernet, all of Springfield. She will be missed as well by her many nieces, nephews, friends, and Dominican Sisters.
I am so sorry to lose Sister Regina Marie….what a beautiful (inside and out) woman of Faith and gentleness. I loved her. My prayers for all of my beloved Sisters at this time. My love,
Donna Lamoureux
Sister Regina Marie was my 1st grade teacher at Our Lady of Grace in Chicago, she was beautiful inside and out. I never forgot her. May she Rest In Peace.
My parents allowed me to take art one year and she was my art teacher at Sacred Heart Academy. I LOVED her class! It was the highlight of my day! She was so patient and kind! I am so sorry to hear about her passing but I am sure she went straight to heaven!
A wonderful woman. A true example of faith and grace. A very good friend since my days at SHA.
Lucy Kennedy
She was my first teacher who was also a friend. I loved seeing her every day. She will be missed 💔
Sister Regina Marie’s passing does not make me sad. Her gentleness, warmth, gifts, love of laughter and her devotion to the Lord made her a favorite of everyone. I know she will be missed by her Dominican family, her brother and sisters-in-law and her extended family. Each time I think of “art” I immediately think of her….her life was truly an artistic gift to each of us. Thank you, Lord for the gift of her life.
She was my art teacher at Sacred Heart Academy and one of those teachers who loved what you created not so much because it was that good but because she loved you. I will always treasure her and that learning.
Sister Regina Marie will forever hold a special place in my heart from the time she taught at St. Walter in Chicago.