Sister Nivelle (Lucina) Berning, 91, professor emerita and Saint Anselm College’s first 
dean of women, died August 2.
Sister Nivelle came to Saint Anselm in 1968 as the founding superior of the Benedictine Sisters community, at the invitation of Abbot Gerald McCarthy, O.S.B. She taught for many years in the biology department and played a key role in the introduction of coeducation to Saint Anselm College in the early 1970s. She served as dean of women from 1970 to 1985.
“During the last four decades she made innumerable contributions to the growth and development of our college,” said Father Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., president of the college. “Most of all, she was a model of the life of prayer and work that is so central to Saint Benedict's way of living out the Gospel.”
Sister Nivelle was born April 4, 1916, in St. Michael, Minn., and was the daughter of Hubert and Veronica (Hackenmueller) Berning.
She entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery on Sept. 6, 1936; made her first monastic profession on July 11, 1942, and perpetual profession on July 11, 1945. Sister Nivelle attended St. Albert grade school in Albertville, Minn., and Saint Benedict’s High School in St. Joseph, Minn. She graduated from the College of St. Benedict with a B.A. degree in biology and minors in mathematics and English. At Saint Benedict’s she was inducted into the Delta Epsilon Sigma Honor Society and continued to be active in this organization at Saint Anselm College. Sister Nivelle earned a M.S. degree in biology at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She also studied at the University of Minnesota and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Sister Nivelle taught at St. Bernard’s Grade School in St. Paul; St. Boniface High School in Cold Spring; Cathedral High School in St. Cloud; St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing; and the College of St. Benedict. She also was superior and assistant administrator at St. Benedict’s Hospital in Ogden, Utah.
Her positions at Saint Anselm included assistant dean of students and seminar leader in the Humanities Program. In retirement she worked in the Meelia Center for Community Service. She affirmed the work of others and by her presence supported campus activities whether sponsored by students or faculty. Hospitality was essential in her ministry.
In 1995 Sister Nivelle was recognized as professor emerita and on May 1, 2000, a new residence hall was named Nivelle Hall in honor of her work there, as well as all the Benedictine Sisters who served at Saint Anselm.
On July 11, Abbot Matthew Leavy, O.S.B., celebrated a Mass to mark her 65th anniversary of profession. He said during the homily:
"Sister Nivelle, we thank you for your sixty-five years of monastic witness to us all, not just of endurance, but also of enthusiasm, even in times of illness as you unite yourself to Christ in the suffering phase of the paschal mystery. Your 40 years of prayer and work here in our midst at Saint Anselm has been an immense blessing to both the abbey and college communities and for this we are most grateful.
"But again, it is not so much for what you do that we treasure you, but for who you are and for the ways in which you reflect to us the feminine dimension of our Benedictine search for God. We are pleased to have with us these days the Subprioress of Sister Nivelle’s community from Minnesota, Sr. Sharon. And we join with you in celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of your monastic community there. We have certainly been the beneficiaries of your community’s prayer and work, enthusiasm and endurance."
Sister Nivelle is survived by her Benedictine Community; a sister, Delores Chounard; several nieces and nephews.
Her body will be received at Saint Anselm Abbey Church at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug.4, with visitation until 10:30 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at the Abbey Church. Burial will be at St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minn.