In Memoriam: Sister Marlene Bertke, OSB
January 19, 1932 – March 21, 2026
Our sister, Marlene, now lives in
the fullness of God’s everlasting joy.
After a lifetime of cultivating peace, justice, and
mouthwatering tomatoes, she has earned her rest.
To call Marlene a strong and passionate woman
would be a vast understatement.
In her defense of the poor and victims of violence,
Marlene was a relentless and powerful force of love,
a call for justice that could not be ignored.
Her great love extended to her family,
both of her Benedictine communities,
her many friends and, yes, even her enemies.
We pray, O God, that you give us
the passion that burned in Marlene’s heart.
In her memory, may we be a bit more relentless
in our work for peace and justice.
We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Sister Marlene Bertke, OSB, 94, died on March 21, 2026, at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Sister Marlene was born in Covington, Kentucky, to Raymond and Margaret (nee Volkering) Bertke, and was baptized in Holy Cross Church in Covington and attended Holy Cross elementary and high school. After graduation in 1949 she entered the Benedictine Sisters of Covington, Kentucky, and was given the name Mary Christopher.
Sister Marlene earned a B.A. degree from Thomas More College (now University) in Covington in 1959 and earned an M.A in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame in 1966. She taught elementary and high school in Catholic schools in the Covington Diocese from 1951-1974.
In 1974 Sister Marlene moved to Erie to become part of the Erie Benedictines’ Pax Center, a Christian Community for Nonviolence, an intentional community that engaged in peace education and action for nuclear disarmament and other social issues, offered hospitality to homeless women, and opened Emmaus Soup Kitchen. She also began teaching at St. Benedict Academy while living and working at Pax Center. During this time Sister Marlene decided to become a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie.
Sister Marlene completed the transfer of her vows from the Benedictine Sisters of Covington to the Benedictine Sisters of Erie in 1980. She was a co-founder of Benedictines for Peace (BFP) in 1980 and participated in leadership of BFP until 2015. In that role she was one of the originators of the Good Friday Peace Pilgrimage in 1980 and helped begin the Take Back the Site vigils in 1999. To date 168 vigils have been held in Erie at the site of violent deaths in order to “take back the site” for nonviolence.
After leaving St. Benedict Academy in 1980, Sister Marlene spent ten years as manager of Benet Press. She then worked four years at Pax Christi USA as publicity coordinator followed by seventeen years as associate director of the US Secretariat of the Alliance for International Monasticism. From 1977-2013 Sister Marlene taught English as a second language in addition to her formal ministry. She retired in 2012 which gave her more time to dedicate to peace and justice efforts including letter writing, calling congresspersons, attending vigils, and engaging guests in conversation about important issues.
Sister Marlene participated in various international delegations including a Witness for Peace trip to Nicaragua in 1984, three trips to El Salvador between 1986 and 1993 to walk with refugees, support those looking for information about their disappeared relatives, and to observe elections. She was part of a Pax Christi USA delegation to Mexico in 1995.
The Erie Times-News named Sister Marlene “Person of the Year 2016” for her work in the peace movement. Marlene’s passion was peace and justice; her love was gardening. A ripe tomato eaten right off the vine was one of her greatest delights. Others were camping, card playing, fishing, and time with friends and family.
Sister Marlene was proceeded in death by her parents Raymond and Margaret, sisters Lorraine Gullett, Helen Jones, Yvonne Hofmann, Dolores List, and brother Stanley Bertke. She is survived by her Benedictine community and by many nieces and nephews and their families.
Services will take place at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery: Wednesday, March 25, Visitation from 2:00-5:00 p.m., Service of Memories at 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, March 26, Visitation from 2:00-5:00 p.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial of Sister Marlene at 5:30 p.m. Brugger Funeral Homes and Crematory, Pine Avenue Branch, is handling arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, 6101 East Lake Road, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16511.
Memorials may be made to the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, 6101 East Lake Road, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16511, click here.
