Catherine was born to Albert Clarence and Mary Bertha Clements Wethington on April 24, 1906, in Clementsville, Ky. She was one of 12 children: nine brothers ─ Carl, Albert, Frank, Aloysius, Louis, John, William, James and David; and two sisters, Mary Louise and Betty Jane. The family moved to Beardstown, Ill. Catherine entered first grade, and continued through high school, in the public schools of Ashland, Ill. Catherine received Confirmation at St. Alexius Church in Beardstown on July 6, 1924.
At age 19, Catherine became a postulant in the Ursuline Community at Mount Saint Joseph. She received the Ursuline habit and the name, Sister Mary Bertha, on March 19, 1926. She completed the two-year novitiate and made temporary profession of vows on March 19, 1928, followed by final profession on March 19, 1931. Over a span of two decades, Sister continued to further her education at Brescia College in Owensboro, Ky., Nazareth College and Ursuline College in Louisville, and Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. She was known as a master teacher and school administrator.
Sister Mary Bertha’s teaching career began at St. Mary Magdaline School, Sorgho, Ky. She and her companions traveled to school each day from the Motherhouse. Her second mission assignment was to St. Columba School in Louisville for 11 years. Subsequent assignments took her to Seven Holy Founders, Affton, Mo.; back to Kentucky at St. Columba for nine years; Sts. Joseph and Paul, Owensboro; St. Joseph, Leitchfield; St. Bartholomew, Buechel; St. Bridget, Vine Grove; St. Pius X, Owensboro; and St. Ignatius, Louisville. In 1972, she became the director of the St. Angela Education Center (Edenside Avenue, Louisville) until 1985. She resigned that position but continued private tutoring there until 1988. After 61 years in education, she retired to spend time in her favorite hobby ─ the exquisite art of quilting. Her hundreds of quilts were masterpieces. She remained in residence at the Center until failing health necessitated her coming home to Saint Joseph Villa in 2001.
In her time of suffering in Saint Joseph Villa, Sister Mary Bertha remained the open-hearted, gentle, graceful, quietly fun-loving and prayerful woman that endeared her to the nursing staff in the same way that she was held in affection by former students and friends, many of whom kept in contact through the years. Sister Mary Bertha died peacefully, December 2, 2009. At 103, she was the oldest Ursuline Sister in the community’s history.
On December 5, Father Richard Meredith was the principal celebrant of the Mass of Resurrection. His brother, Father John Meredith, gave the homily. Both of them are former students of Sister Mary Bertha. Concelebrating at the Mass were Father Al Wilson, (another former student), Father Dave Glockner and Father Tom Kirkendoll. Among the pall bearers was a former student, who, as a grown man past middle age could not read, heard about Sister Mary Bertha’s work at St. Angela Education Center and came to her for help. Over and above her professional credentials, he credits Sister’s prayerfulness, her patient understanding, and encouragement with guiding him to overcome his embarrassment and fears, giving him confidence in his ability to be successful.