The daughter of Reynolds and Mary Catherine (Mattingly) Mattingly, Bernadette was born April 26, 1885, in Curdsville, Ky., into a pioneer family from Maryland through Nelson County. She received her Catholic training from her parents and attended the public schools of Daviess County. Bernadette was inclined toward religious life but delayed entrance to help her parents at home. Following her entrance at the age of 22, Bernadette received the Ursuline habit on August 25, 1908, and the name Sister DeLourdes.
After preparations for her apostolate of homemaking, Sister DeLourdes was assigned to Browns Valley, Ky., where she assisted the Sisters who opened St. Anthony School. She was later assigned to St. Angela Home in Louisville. Sister DeLourdes was called back to Mount Saint Joseph in 1920. She supervised the dairy, took care of the Sisters’ infirmary, and directed the sewing room. After a few years, her only assignment was being seamstress for the community, a position she kept for 50 years. Novices were assigned to assist Sister DeLourdes in the sewing room.
Sister DeLourdes’ final years were spent in the infirmary where death came to her on May 5, 1972. The following day her nephew, Father Martin Mattingly, celebrated her funeral Mass and preached the sermon. Msgr. Edward Russell and Father Bernard Powers were in the sanctuary. Sister DeLourdes’ remains are buried in the convent cemetery.