Sr. Mary Ellen Bernard, RDC, (formerly Sr. Mary Leonilla), a Sister of the Divine Compassion, died peacefully on October 29, 2015.

Sr. Mary Ellen was born in Jamestown, NY in 1927, the daughter of Teresa and Francis Bernard. She attended St. Bernard’s Elementary School and Good Counsel High School, and received her BA in English from Good Counsel College and MA in English from Fordham University.

Sister’s teaching career began at St. Bernard’s School in White Plains and St. Frances de Chantal in the Bronx. For many years Sister taught English at Good Counsel Academy High School in White Plains and Preston High School in the Bronx, and in retirement she tutored women for their GEDs at Mercy Center in the South Bronx, while serving as assistant Archivist for the Sisters of the Divine Compassion.

Sr. Carol Wagner, President of the RDCs said, “Sr. Mary Ellen touched the lives thousands of students and colleagues, teaching them to read and to write and love English, from struggling beginners to mentoring and editing PhD theses. We all will miss her humble gentle presence and wit.”

Sister Mary Ellen is survived by her Sisters of the Divine Compassion and her sister-in-law, Lia Carrasco. She was predeceased by her brother, Francis Bernard.