The funeral Mass for Sister Bertha (Mary Austin) Fischer, ASC,
was celebrated Sept. 7 in the chapel at Ruma Center in Ruma, Ill.
Sister Bertha died Sept. 1 in St. Louis. She was 83 years old and had
been a professed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 61
years.
Born in St. Rose, Ill., she earned undergraduate and
graduate degrees in French, minoring in other languages, that
kick-started a lifelong interest and ministry in languages.
She
taught French at St. Pius X High School in Festus (1960-73), at Mater
Dei High School in Breese, Ill. (1973-74) and at Assumption High School
in East St. Louis, Ill. (1974-84).
She began Italian studies in
1985 in Rome, in preparation for being a translator for English-speaking
Adorers. She served in Rome as a member of the General Council or
Leadership Team for the entire congregation from 1987 to 1991.
Interrupted by a several-months stay with Adorers in La Paz, Bolivia,
and a four-month sabbatical, she returned to Rome to serve as translator
from 1992 to 1996, and again from 1999 to 2006. In total, she was in
Rome 17 years
Sister Bertha also loved music, and organized
liturgical music and sang in the choir at Ruma Center, the Adorers
motherhouse. She also sang with the St. Louis Symphony Chorus.
She
is survived by her sisters Lidwina Schumacher, Mary Goestenkors, Helen
Fiedler, Geraldine Mejia, Agnes Rasure, Irma Gapter, Angela Karban and
brothers Joseph Jr. Fischer and Robert Fischer.