Sister Bernadette Shunick, O.S.B., 1916-2003

Sr. Bernadette Shunick, OSB, former librarian, dies

A funeral Mass for Sister Bernadette Shunick, OSB, a former school and convent librarian, was offered Tuesday, Nov. 25, at St. Mary Monastery here.

Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.  Sister Bernadette, 87, died Friday, Nov. 21, 2003, at St. Mary Monastery.

Born July 29, 1916, in Monmouth to Richard and Sadie (Cavanaugh) Shunick, she entered the Benedictine Sisters of Pontifical Jurisdiction on Sept. 8, 1934, and professed final vows on July 26, 1939.

She graduated from St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa and served a librarian for St. Mary Monastery in Nauvoo; Holy Family Parish, Peoria; St. Roch’s School, La Salle; St. Boniface Parish, Peoria; St. Columba School, Chicago; St. John School, Clinton; St. Mary’s School, Moline; and the Peoria Association for Retarded Citizens (PARC), Peoria.

Survivors include three sisters, Sister Veronica Shunick, OSB, of Rock Island, Vera Cofield of Ankeny, Iowa and Rosemary Shunick of Monmouth; and one brother, Richard of Scottsdale, Ariz.