Sister Bertranda Pustelnik
August 21, 2009
Born and raised in Chicago Heights, Illinois, Irene Pustelnik was the third youngest in a family of 12 children of Polish immigrants, Julia (Maslanka) and Charles Pustelnik. She was educated by the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at St. Joseph School in Chicago Heights.
Sister Bertranda ministered in education as a principal, teacher and tutor from 1939 to 2001 in schools in Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and West Virginia. As a principal, Sister Bertranda showed great love for the children. She was known for her kindness and liked giving students a second chance when they needed it.
While she was in Monroe, Louisiana, abortion was legalized. Sister Bertranda became an activist in the Pro-Life movement. Her passion extended to journeying to Washington, DC, for the annual Pro-Life March. This was an intense, strenuous pilgrimage that she made four times because she believed in the sanctity of every human life. Until the day she died, she prayed daily for an end to abortions.