Sister Mary Clement Bird, PBVM, 1914-2009

BIRD

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 3/18/2015 at 19:43:54

Dubuque Telegraph Herald January 24, 2009

Sister Mary Clement Bird, PBVM, 94, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, at Mount Loretto Motherhouse, Dubuque.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at Mount Loretto Motherhouse. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Iowa. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at Mount Loretto Motherhouse, where there will be a wake service at 7 p.m. The Siegert-Casper Colonial Funeral Home, 390 N. Grandview Ave., is in charge of arrangements.

Sister graduated from Loras College, Dubuque. Her career, spanning 58 years, took her to Mason City, Algona, Monticello, Ryan and Mount Loretto Motherhouse, all in Iowa, Oregon, Ill., and Winner, S.D. Her ministries included both teaching elementary grade school and community food service. She joined the food service team at Mount Loretto in 1969 and continued until her retirement in 1997. All who dined at Mount Loretto enjoyed her meals, cookies and bakery creations. Sister continued her hobbies, prayer and community service until her death.

She enjoyed reading, a good hand of euchre and 500 rummy, crocheting and visiting with her family and friends. In her gentle and joyfilled ways, Sister followed God's call by living a dedicated life as a Presentation sister.

She was born on Feb. 19, 1914, in Sexton, Iowa, daughter of John and Mary Bird.

She entered the Sisters of the Presentation in December 1936 and professed her perpetual vows on July 31, 1942.

Surviving are her nieces; nephews; and the Sister of the Presentation with whom she shared her life for 73 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brothers, James and Clement Bird.