An extraordinary teacher who inspired curiosity
Obituaries
Sr Bernadette Marks RSM | Born 2 February 1938 | Died 9 May 2026
If a person’s legacy is quantified by the impact on the students she taught and the peers she inspired, Sr Bernadette Marks, is immeasurable. The positive ripples created by a woman like this continue through time, long after she walks among them.
Bernadette Joan Marks, born in Millicent on 2 February 1938, and was the fourth child of John and Joan Marks. Her siblings, all deceased, were Monica, Therese, John and Catherine.
Their father was a postmaster and the family moved numerous times during their childhood. Bernadette was educated in schools conducted by the Dominicans, Josephites, OLSH, and Mercy Sisters; all of whom undoubtedly influenced her path into meaningful education. Bernadette was a high achiever from day dot. During 1955, as a student at SAC, she became Dux of the College, was a Prefect, and also played A grade tennis and basketball. Bernadette concluded the year by winning a scholarship to study at Adelaide University. Celebrations ensued when she returned home to Darwin for the holidays which coincided with her 18th birthday.
Having won a scholarship, she combined a Science Degree with postulancy and continued after her Canonical year, graduating in 1960 and immediately teaching Leaving Honours students.
She and her peers were professed as Sisters of Mercy in Saint Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in January 1959.
Bernadette bookended her Adelaide teaching career at SAC, nine years in all, but interleaved this with 17 years at Mercedes (from 1961 to 1977). It was at Mercedes that ‘Bern’ as she was known to friends became a senior science teacher and sports mistress, later becoming deputy principal and continuing in that role when she welcomed Ruth Whitely, the first lay principal. She and Ruth went on to become firm friends.
Ever-talented and ever-available, her response to Mercy life in the College and beyond broadened. She became acting Formation Mistress together with being the Sister in charge of Mercedes Mercies.
Over two months in the summer of 1973 and ’74 she visited Saigon where Rosemary Taylor was working with children orphaned by the war in Vietnam. Then, in February she was back to Mercedes and continuing as deputy until the end of 1977.
Aiyura, Papua New Guinea beckoned. The next four years found Bern teaching at National High School where senior students were drawn from across the country, among them many future leaders to whom she taught Year 11 and 12 Mathematics. This was a boarding school of some 400 students, and Bern was also available as Dean for the young women.
In this beautiful spot in the Highlands, Bern’s gift for photography blossomed, also giving her wider circles insight into this amazing country.
Bern was called back to Adelaide to join the Mercy Congregation Council. From 1982 to 1989 she served in that capacity, as well as being Congregation Bursar and part time teacher at SAC.
Adelaide Sister of Mercy Mary-Anne Duigan shared a memory from Bern’s time as Congregation Bursar. “She was required to address the periodic Chapter with her finance report covering the previous five years. Ever the smiling teacher, Bern arrived, this time carrying a large bunch of coloured helium balloons,” she said. “Immediately she had us engaged! Each balloon, she announced, represented an account we held – properties, cars, aged care support, novitiate costs, further studies, sabbatical enrichment and so on. As she spoke to each category, she let the balloon go, while its long tail, trailed the names of Sisters who’d benefitted from that account! The finance report was accepted to acclaim!”
In 1990 it was time for Bern’s own sabbatical. She attended a two-month program in New Zealand called ‘Pastoral and Spiritual Leadership’. This was followed by community living experiences in Tonga, Argentina, Thailand, Pakistan, Israel, Rome, Ireland and Oxford. She also travelled through Europe.
“It was a celebration of life for Bern, and for us as she sent photos and later shared her trip at a community meeting,” said Sr Mary-Anne Duigan. “She reported her adventures by producing and displaying three coat hangers. These, she said, held the three outfits she wore; washed and hung to dry in all the places she’d visited over these many months. And true, yes, we had the photo evidence: Bern in Buenos Aires, Bern in Rome, Bern in Ireland…the same clothes!”
While it wasn’t something she proclaimed, living simply was a hallmark of Bern’s life.
In 1991 Bern headed to Pakistan where she became deputy director of the Notre Dame Institute of Education. For the next eight years she taught mathematics to future Graduates of the NDIE Teachers’ College in Karachi. To this day, she is remembered with great affection by those with whom she taught, as well as her students.
During her last four years, she was also the Pakistan Mercy Leader.
In 2000 Bern returned to Australia with a whole new focus. Sharing community with Pat Feehan, she completed a Bachelor of Theology, became a member of the Uniting Church/Roman Catholic Dialogue, a member of the Inter Faith Dialogue, and was a prayer companion in parishes. All this while concurrently holding the position of Chairperson of St Pius X Parish Pastoral Council at Dernancourt.
It was at Dernancourt she wholeheartedly celebrated her Golden Jubilee of Profession with Eucharist and a party, in January 2009.
When Bern’s health needs began to increase, she moved into the Plympton cluster, followed by her final nine years in the Boral Unit at Southern Cross Care, Bucklands.
The love, care and respect which welcomed and supported her there was a repetition of what her whole life had been; a calling out of what was best in the other.
Her life was a remarkable one of insight and knowledge, teaching, care and service, shaping the lives of others with gentleness and mercy.
One of the Mercy Sisters recently described Bern as “a quiet woman of substance”.
Her smile greeted her family, her students, the Sisters of Mercy, every person who shared her friendship, and all who met her in Bucklands.
Bernadette joined the Novitiate in Angas Street on 9 April 1956 and 70 years and one month later, entered eternal life.
