Sr. Mary DePaul, Bernadine Szankin, entered eternal life Feb. 24 at St. Joseph Convent, Livonia. She was 90 and in religious life 71 years.

Born Oct. 27, 1926, in Detroit, Bernadine was the third of six children born to Anthony and Rose (Nadlicki). She completed high school at the Seminary of the Felician Sisters in Detroit and was admitted to the postulancy on June 29, 1945. She was invested with the Felician habit on Aug. 12, 1946, and made final profession of vows in 1953.

Sr. Szankin earned a degree from Madonna (College) University and taught for 47 years throughout the state of Michigan. Sr. Szankin taught at St. Michael, Livonia; Holy Rosary, Saginaw; St. Florian, Hamtramck; St. Valentine, Kawkawlin; St. Michael, Port Austin; Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Hamtramck; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Wyandotte; St. Stanislaus, Detroit; St. Stanislaus, Jackson; St. Hyacinth, Detroit; St. Edith, Livonia; Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Bronson; Our Lady of Refuge, Orchard Lake; St. Mel, Dearborn; and Our Lady Help of Christians, Detroit. She served as principal at several schools. From 1976-77, she was director of the Angela Marie Day Care Center in Livonia.

Sr. Szankin is survived by her brothers Anthony (Betty Ann) and Thomas, (Eleanor), and nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 28 at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel of the Felician Sisters’ Central Convent in Livonia. Burial is in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.