Luella Bertha was born on July 14, 1923 in Baileyville, Kansas, the fourth of twelve children born to Martha and Frank Dick. She attended Sacred Heart school in her hometown for nine years then helped her family at home till she was 18. She felt strongly attracted to religious life and asked to be admitted to our Congregation. Luella entered on January 30, 1944, and received the habit in August. When she pronounced her first vows she received the name of Emerita. She pronounced final vows on Sept. 8, 1950. Before her silver jubilee she consulted with her family about returning to her baptismal name. Since it pleased them she resumed her name, Luella.

The voice of obedience called Sister to serve in our monasteries of Clyde, Mundelein, Tucson and San Diego. With high energy she undertook all her tasks in Kitchen, canning room, and especially in the altar bread department where she was known to be the best baker, the best cutter, etc. 

It came as a great chock when in 1982 she was diagnosed with leukemia. A month of chemotherapy brought her disease into remission so that she was able to resume her duties with great zeal and energy for 7 years. On February 1989, it was found that the leukemia had returned. Gradually, her body began weaken though she still participated in most community services and remained joyful and interested in the man friends she had acquired in the San Diego vicinity.

A few months before her death she spoke openly to Sr. Karen Joseph about her peace in regard to her death, and how close God felt to her.  "Thank you" was on her lips for every little service rendered her. On the evening of Nov. 20, 1990, as several sisters were watching by her bedside her breathing quietly stopped. It seemed fitting that Sister Luella died during Thanksgiving week, for the past months her heart was filled with thanksgiving for all of God's blessings to her.