Maryknoll, NY — Sister Bernardine Remedios, MM, a missioner in Hong Kong and Taiwan for 40 years, died October 17, 2014, at Methodist Hospital, Arcadia, CA. She was 84 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 58 years.
Born on July 25, 1930, in Kowloon, Hong Kong, to Fernando and Carmen Osmund Remedios, she was one of seven children born to the couple.
A 1948 graduate of Maryknoll Convent School , Hong Kong, Sister Bernardine, known during religious life as Carmen Fernanda Remedios, also attended Mary Rogers College, Maryknoll, NY, where she received a B.S. in education in 1972.
She entered Maryknoll at their motherhouse on September 2, 1956, from St. Theresa’s Parish, Kowloon, Hong Kong, made her first vows at the motherhouse on June 24, 1959, and her final vows in Hong Kong on June 24, 1965.
Sister Bernardine’s first assignment was teaching catechetics in Houlung, Taiwan, from 1960-1969. Then, after completing her studies at MRC, she worked in the Treasury Department at the motherhouse from 1973-1974, and served as director of the kindergarten program at Transfiguration Parish School, Chinatown, NY, from 1974-1975.
Sister Bernardine then returned to Hong Kong, where she served as Finance Director for the congregation’s regional office in Hong Kong from 1976-1981. She then returned to Taiwan, where she served as bookkeeper from 1981-1987, while also engaged in pastoral and youth work.
She returned to the motherhouse where she again worked in the Treasury Department from 1987-2000, becoming the director of that department in 1993.
In 2001, Sister Bernardine retired to the Sisters’ residence in Monrovia, CA, where she had been actively involved in assorted volunteer activities, as well as serving as the Finance Officer of the residence from 2010 until her death.
Sister Bernadine is survived by a sister, Mrs. Therese Wiegers of N. Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, and five brothers: Dr. Alphonso Remedios of Decatur, IL; Carlos Remedios of Roseville Chase, New South Wales, Australia; Eduardo Remedios of Wyong, New South Wales, Australia; Fernando Remedios of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; and Philip Remedios of Kowloon, Hong Kong.
A Vesper service will be held for Sister Bernardine on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 3 p.m. at the Maryknoll Sisters residence, Monrovia, CA, followed by a Mass of Resurrection on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at 11 a.m. in the same location. A memorial Mass will also be offered at for Sister Bernardine at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Ossining, NY, at a later date. Burial will be in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery at Maryknoll, NY.