Huron County MI Archives Obituaries.....Booms, Harriett M. (Sister Bernetta) October 4, 2023
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Norma Novick fox2157@aol.com October 27, 2023, 2:11 pm

Published https://ihmsisters.org/who-we-are/members/in-memoriam/bernetta-booms-ihm/
Harriett M. (Sister Bernetta) Booms  
July 10, 1927 - October 4, 2023
Sister Bernetta Booms, IHM, 96, died Wednesday, October 4, at the IHM Senior 
Living Community.  Born July 10, 1927, to Joseph and Dorothy (Scholtz) Booms of 
Harbor Beach, Michigan.  Attended Ashmore School; graduated from Our Lady of the 
Lake High School.  Entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of 
Mary; Received the religious name, Sister Bernetta.  Early ministry at St. 
Joseph, Monroe, Blessed Sacrament, Detroit, and St. John the Evangelist, Fenton.  
Missioned to Santa Teresita, Santurce, Convento de la Merced, and La Merced, 
Cayey. Puerto Rico.  Studied and earned a bachelor’s degree at Marygrove 
College, Master’s degree at Berry College, Miami.  Later served many years in 
pastoral and prayer ministries in Grenada, West Indies.  Returned to the IHM 
Motherhouse in 1982 after forty years of mission work. Served her community of 
sisters in all needs until retirement in 2000.  

Sister Bernie was a loving sister to Margaret Goniwiecha who survives; and 
deceased siblings John A., Ronald, Magdalen, Helen, Stella, Catherine, Shirley, 
and Audrey. Beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews.
See the full obituary at https://tinyurl.com/bdm2xt35. Arrangements by Rupp 
Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm 
Avenue, Monroe, MI 48162.
Posted online on October 05, 2023
Published in The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press



Sister Bernetta Booms, IHM, 96, died Wednesday, Oct. 4, at home, the IHM Senior 
Living Community.  Harriet M. Booms joined the family of Joseph and Dorothy 
(Scholtz) Booms in Harbor Beach, Michigan, on July 10, 1927, which eventually 
grew to a family of 10 children.  She attended Ashmore School and graduated from 
Our Lady of the Lake High School.  Three weeks before her 18th birthday, she 
entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and received the 
religious name, Sister Bernetta.

Sister Bernie, as she was known, began a teaching ministry with early grades at 
St. Joseph, Monroe, Blessed Sacrament, Detroit and St. John the Evangelist, 
Fenton.  After earning a bachelor’s degree at Marygrove College, she was 
missioned to Santa Teresita, Santurce, Puerto Rico (1957) to teach second grade.  
The teaching life in Puerto Rico was very affirming as Sister Bernie continued 
to teach junior high at Convento de la Merced and La Merced, Cayey, for 15 
years!  During this time, she earned a master’s degree from Berry College, 
Miami.  Along with teaching, she took on whatever tasks were needed: cooking for 
missioned sisters in community, driving and companioning, and being present with 
the local parish.  Truly, “a Bernie” of all trades and a testament to her 
upbringing in St. Anthony parish and farms of Harbor Beach.

In 1972, Sister Bernie transitioned to pastoral and prayer ministries in 
Grenada, West Indies.  In the Diocese of St. George, she ministered at The 
Hilarion Leonard Cheshire Home, a home for the disabled and elderly in St. 
Patrick Parish.  Almost 10 years later, Sister Bernie returned to Michigan and 
the IHM Motherhouse in 1982.  After 40 years of mission work, she participated 
in the Washington Mission Seminar sponsored by the United States Catholic 
Mission Association for returning missionaries.
As a Motherhouse resident, Sister Bernie continued to address visible needs.  
She served her community, assisting sisters with daily activities as a driver 
and companion and eventually coordinating all transportation needs for the 
Motherhouse community.

When she retired in 2000, she continued to live independently on campus and 
volunteered as she was able.  As her health declined, she sought continuing care 
in the campus health care center.  Her journey was accompanied by visits from 
family, her many community friends and staff.
Sister Bernie is survived by sisters Margaret Goniwiecha, Shirley Kramer and 
Audrey Huska and many nieces and nephews; preceded by siblings John A., Ronald, 
Magdalen, Helen, Stella, Catherine, Shirley and Audrey.

Services will be held at the IHM Motherhouse Chapel, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, 
on Saturday, Oct. 7.  Welcoming of the body begins at 9 a.m. with a Remembering 
and Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m.  Livestreaming begins at 10 a.m. and may 
be viewed until Oct. 28, 2023.  Green Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery.  
Arrangements by Rupp Funeral Home.  Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement 
Fund, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, MI 48162.  Published 
https://ihmsisters.org/who-we-are/members/in-memoriam/bernetta-booms-ihm/


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