Born in Knottsville, Ky., on Independence Day 1901, Bertha was the daughter of Thomas and Susan Montgomery Payne. She received her early education at St. Lawrence School. At the age of 18, Bertha entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. Following a postulancy of eight months, she received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Constantia on March 19, 1920.
Sister Constantia‘s apostolate was domestic service. In 1920, she was assigned to St. Romuald Convent in Hardinsburg, Ky., for three years. Following this first mission experience, Sister was sent to Sacred Heart Academy in Waterflow, N.M., for six years, cooking and doing the laundry for the Sisters and boarding students. In 1929, she was assigned to St. Angela Home in Louisville. She and Sister Pauline Chamberlain cared for the housekeeping needs of the Sisters there for 24 years. Both Sister Constantia and Sister Pauline were transferred to Brescia College as housekeepers from 1953 to 1963. The two of them were next assigned to the residence of Bishop Henry Soenneker in Owensboro where they worked together for seven years.
Until one month before her death on November 21, 1970, Sister Constantia remained on duty at the bishops residence. On November 24, 1970, Bishop Henry J. Soenneker, Msgr. Bernard Powers, chaplain, and Msgr. George Hancock celebrated the funeral Mass at Mount Saint Joseph. Sister Constantia’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.