Dominican Sister of Peace Collette Marie (Gertrude) Bauer, OP, (93), a native of Spalding, NE, died on January 5, 2022, at Sansbury Care Center, St. Catharine, KY.

Sister Collette, one of ten siblings, was born in 1928 to Marie Latzel and Jacob Bauer. After graduating from Spalding Academy, she taught for several years in rural schools before she entered the community in 1950. Sister Collette made first profession in 1952 and took her final vows in 1955. She would have celebrated 70 years of consecrated life in 2022.

Sister Collette earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education and English from Siena College and a Master of Arts in Higher Education with a concentration in Art from Morehead College. A true Dominican, she loved to study and took a variety of courses to keep her teaching skills up to date. She taught elementary school children for 20 years and served as a librarian in Kentucky and Nebraska. She also taught art and religion at Saint Catharine Academy and College.

Beyond her work as an educator, Sr. Collette always found a way to become involved in the parishes where she ministered. She participated in charismatic prayer groups, led retreats at the Center of Ecumenism at Saint Catharine, and published a book of poems entitled Collette’s Canticles. Sr. Collette was also deeply concerned about refugees and the marginalized in her community, and ministered to those in need through five years of service with Catholic Charities in Louisville, KY.

Sister Collette began her final ministry of prayer and presence at the Sansbury Care Center in 1998.

Sister Collette is survived by several nieces and nephews.

Sr. Collette’s final gift was to donate her body to science. A Remembrance service was held on January 11 and Memorial Mass was held on January 12, both at Sansbury Care Center Chapel, St. Catharine, KY. Both services were limited to family members and Dominican Sisters of Peace. Burial will be in the St. Catharine Motherhouse cemetery at a later date.

To donate in Sr. Collette’s memory, please click here.

To download a printable copy of this memorial, click here.

Memorial gifts in Sr. Collette Marie Bauer’s memory may also be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr, Columbus, OH 43219.