Sister of St. Joseph Bernice Benner (formerly Sister Rosalia) died Oct. 31, 2015. She was 99 years old.
She entered the congregation in 1933 from her home parish of St. Paul of the Cross in Honeoye Falls. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1948 and a bachelor’s degree in English and history in 1958, both from Nazareth College.
Sister Benner taught at Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Ambrose, St. Monica and Holy Rosary, Rochester; St. Paul, Oswego; St. Mary, Waterloo; St. Alphonsus, Auburn; St. James, Waverly; St. Theodore, Gates; St. Patrick, Seneca Falls; and Holy Trinity, Webster. She then served for a year as a classroom assistant at Nazareth Hall.
In 1973, Sister Benner moved to the motherhouse and worked in the Social Security office. She was the bookstore manager at St. Agnes High School from 1977-79, then served as secretary to the administrator at St. Joseph’s Convent Infirmary. In 1984, she became distribution manager for the community newsletter and remained there until her retirement in 2003.
Sister Benner is survived by several cousins and her sisters in the congregation.
Her funeral liturgy was celebrated in the motherhouse chapel on Nov. 3, 2015, with burial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph Ministry Fund, 150 French Road, Rochester NY 14618, or online at www.ssjrochester.org.
