MILWAUKEE — Sister Berna Nieuwenhuis, a School Sister of St. Francis, who lived her religious vocation in education, died Nov. 3 at Sacred Heart Convent in Milwaukee, Wis. She was 83 years old.

The daughter of Benjamin and Theresa Nieuwenhuis, she was born Nov. 11, 1930 in Appleton, Wis. She was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis on June 13, 1948; made her first profession of vows on June 21, 1950 and final (perpetual) vows on June 21, 1956.

Beginning in 1950, Sister Berna ministered in Wisconsin and Illinois for more than six decades. In the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, she taught at St. James School in Decatur from 1955 to 1960.

Sister Berna is survived by her siblings, all residents of Wisconsin: brother Robert (Dorothy) Nieuwenhuis of Wausau; sisters Elaine (Doc) Knapp of Wausau, and Dorothy Bodmer of Appleton; sister-in-law Helen Nieuwenhuis of Wausau; nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and the School Sisters of St. Francis, with whom she shared her life for 66 years.

A wake and funeral liturgy were held Nov. 6 at St. Joseph Convent in Milwaukee. Interment was at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Milwaukee.