Beulah Mae, second child of 13 children, was born to Chester Taylor and Leora Barnes Sipes on September 01, 1906 at Flaherty, Kentucky. Her journey of faith began with baptism at St. Martin of Tours Church.
In September of 1911, although but five years old, Beulah began her formal education at Hill Grove Public School. She also attended Garrett and Maple Grove Schools before the Ursulines came to St. Martin School. She then transferred to St. Martin in the sixth grade and continued there until graduation. She loved the Ursulines immediately and decided that she wanted to join them.
In September 1923, at age 16, she entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph, but was so homesick for her family that she returned home. She gave glowing accounts of her time at the Mount, and in June, her sister Margaret and five other young ladies from Flaherty accompanied her when she re-entered the novitiate. In March 1923, she received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Bernadita. After pronouncing first vows, she was missioned to Fredericktown, Kentucky, as housekeeper for the Sisters teaching there. She served in this capacity for 25 years at various convents in Kentucky: Fredericktown, Louisville (St. Angela Home and St. Columba), Mount Saint Joseph, Rome, Raywick (St. Joseph), Waverly, and Fancy Farm. She also served as housekeeper for six years at Seven Holy Founders in Affton, Missouri.
In 1952, she began preparation for classroom teaching. She completed requirements for a high school diploma, and continued to earn a degree in education from Brescia College in Owensboro. She was missioned to teach primary grades at Fancy Farm, Knottsville, Howardstown and Sorgho until 1983. She worked part time for three years at St. Bridget, Vine Grove. She retired to the Motherhouse, spending her time making beautiful needlework for the annual Mount Saint Joseph Picnic and cherishing the quiet time for prayer and rest.
On April 27, 1996, she came to supper, and as usual went to her room in Paul Volk Hall to listen to the evening news. Shortness of breath caused her to ring the call bell for a nurse. She was taken to the infirmary and placed on oxygen, but quietly passed away before seven o’clock that evening. Her funeral liturgy was celebrated by Father Anthony Shonis, chaplain. Her remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Her Ursuline sister, Sister Margaret, preceded her in death.