Mary Agnes Macherey was born in Germany on May 9, 1884 but had lived in Wisconsin for some years before entering on August 15, 1905. She was invested on July 14, 1906 and professed as an Oblate July 14, 1907, taking the name of Sister M. Bernadette. As an Oblate, she led a prayerful, charitable and self-sacrificing life in the community. Her deft fingers chained and repaired many, many rosaries through the years. She had an attraction for caring for the sick, and took special interest in herb medicines.

Sister's life was a pain-filled one, due to a hip injury in her younger years which caused a contraction of one of her limbs and necessitated the use of crutches. Later, as her condition worsened, a specially constructed and equipped wheel-chair was provided for her. Being thus handicapped was a painful trial for one who in her younger years had been able to outrun all her companions. But her crutches were no barrier to her keeping Mother M. Dolorosa's office and bedroom neat and tidy, a task which she lovingly performed for many years. 

In her last years Sister M. Bernadette became afflicted with cancer. She suffered patiently, with full abandonment to God's holy Will, asking that nothing be given her to prolong her life as she was anxious to go home to God. Death came to her on February 13, 1959, at the age of seventy-four.