Fr. Robert Emmanuel Bertrand O.P.

Robert Francis Bertrand, was born on June 20, 1928, in New Albany, IN, the son of Peter and Eugenia (neé Warisse) Bertrand. He attended parochial school and graduated from New Albany High School in 1946. He completed his degree in Metallurgy at Notre Dame University in 1950. Entering the Dominican novitiate at St. Stephen’s Priory in Dover, MA, in 1951, he received the religious name Emmanuel. Solemnly professed on August 26, 1955, he was ordained to the priesthood at St. Dominic’s Church, Washington, DC on June 5, 1958. Fr. Bertrand’s first assignment was to St. Catherine College in Kentucky where he taught philosophy and served as chaplain. In 1966 he joined the Dominican mission in Pakistan. There he spent 25 years serving as a parish priest in rural villages, a lecturer of Philosophy and Theology at Christ the King Seminary in Karachi, and a formator in the seminary. Fr. Bertrand returned to the United States in 1991 to be chaplain to Motherhouses in St. Catherine, KY and Sparkill, NY. Later he became parochial vicar and assistant Master of Novices at St. Gertrude in Cincinnati. Fr. Bertrand returned to the missions, this time in Kenya, from 2000 to 2003. He returned to the States at St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Zanesville, OH. He also became chaplain at Mohun Health Care Center in Columbus, OH until 2011. From there, he went to St. Louis Bertrand in Louisville, KY, to assist at the parish. Fr. Bertrand returned to Mohun Health Care Center as a resident, in 2014, while continuing to minister to other residents. In 2017, he went back to St. Louis Bertrand to be close to his family. He resided at St. Joseph’s Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, who showered him with devotion until he passed away on December 7, 2022. In addition to his Dominican family, Fr. Bertrand is survived by Mr. Melvin (Martha) Bertrand, Betty Bertrand, and many generations of relatives. Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 11, 2022, from 7 to 9 pm at St. Louis Bertrand Catholic Church, 1104 S. 6th St. Louisville, Ky. Mass of Christian Burial will be 9:30 am Monday, December 12th at St. Louis Bertrand Catholic Church, followed by burial at St. Rose Cemetery in Springfield, KY. Donations in his memory may be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor or the Dominican Friars. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to J.B. Ratterman and Sons Funerals & Family Cremation Care, 2114 W. Market St.

Fr. Robert Emmanuel Bertrand O.P.

June 20, 1928 - December 7, 2022