Manderfeld Bernice

There will be a Parish Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home on Wednesday. Memorials preferred to St. Raphael's Catholic Church and St. John Lutheran Home. Bernadette Cecelia (Bernice) Manderfeld was born September 12, 1911, in New Ulm, MN, the daughter of Rudolph and Mary (Huelskamp) Marti. Upon graduation from Good Counsel Academy in Mankato, she pursued extra coursework at MacPhail School of Music and then taught piano in New Ulm until her marriage in 1934 to Christian Manderfeld. Soon after moving to Springfield, Bernice began teaching piano in her home, at times instructing over 70 students per week. She also became the organist and choir director at St. Raphael's Catholic Church, a position she held for many years. The church honored her by dedicating a church window to Bernice in 2007. Bernice was an avid bridge player and craftsperson, as well as an active participant in church projects. She volunteered as organist at St. John Lutheran Home at their weekly Mass services, continuing that work even after becoming a resident in 2008. Bernice Manderfeld died Sunday, May 24, 2009, at St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield at the age of 97 years. She is survived by daughters Sister Christine Manderfeld,OSB, of St. Joseph, MN and Mary and husband Bill Sullivan of Bloomington, MN, 3 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Chris, and siblings, Sr. Rudolphis, Hedwig Seifert, Aloys Marti, Rudolph Marti,SJ, Linda Gordier and Ben Marti.