School Sister of St. Francis Bernadette Kelter who lived her religious vocation as an educator and home health caretaker, died April 26, 2020, at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Greenfield, Wisconsin. Sister was 88 years old.

Sister Bernadette was born on August 12, 1931, in Middleton, Wisconsin. She was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis on June 13, 1948; made her first profession of vows in 1950; and made final (perpetual) vows in 1956.

Sister Bernadette is survived by two sisters: Sister Catherine Kelter, SSSF, of Greenfield; and Mary Zimmerman of Madison, Wisconsin; and the School Sisters of St. Francis Community, with whom she shared her life for 72 years.

Sister Bernadette ministered in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin for more than seven decades.

In the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, Sister taught at St. John Nepomucene School in Fort Atkinson (1950-1953 and 1960-1963).

In the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, Sister taught at St. Michael School in Wheaton (1956-1960).

In the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, she taught at SS Anthony and Philip School in Highland (1953-1956).

In the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Sister taught at SS Peter and Paul School in Nenno (1963-1967), at St. Kilian School in Hartford (1967-1978), and at St. James School in Menomonee Falls (1978-1980). She served as a home health aide in Milwaukee at Tau Home Health Care Agency (1980-1987), Home Health Services, Inc. (1987), Seton Home Health Services (1987-1995), Franciscan Home Health Care, Inc. (1995-1996), Covenant Home Health (1996-2006), and Wheaton Franciscan Home Health (2006-2007).

In her retirement, Sister served in the ministry of prayer and presence at St. Joseph Convent in Campbellsport, Wisconsin (2007-2011) and at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Greenfield from 2011 until the time of her death.

A Funeral Liturgy was held on April 30, 2020, at St. Joseph Chapel, Milwaukee. Interment was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Milwaukee.