Sister Susan Berger, former prioress of Annunciation Monastery in Bismarck, died Thursday at a Bismarck hospital. She was 63.

Berger was diagnosed with cancer in July 2007. Since then, she has inspired all who knew her with her strength, courage and trust in God and those who cared for her during the course of her treatment, said Jill Ackerman, director of communication and development at the monastery.

"Always grateful, always concerned for others, she generally turned her bedside conversations into questions about the lives of her visitors," Ackerman said.

The monastery bells tolled on the day of her death for Sister Susan, who recently completed a 12-year term as prioress of Annunciation Monastery. As prioress, Sister Susan served as president of the board at St. Alexius Medical Center and the University of Mary.

Even when her health was failing, Sister Susan followed her dream to establish a development program at Annunciation Monastery that would invite others to help further the mission and ministries of the sisters as they have done in western North Dakota since 1878, Ackerman said.

"Our lives are firmly woven with the lives of the people through our sponsorship of St. Alexius Medical Center, the University of Mary, Garrison Memorial Hospital and our work with parishes and the Diocese of Bismarck," Sister Susan had said.

A native of Dickinson, Sister Susan is survived by two brothers and one sister. She held master's degrees in professional psychology from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn., and in communication arts from the University of Notre Dame.

She taught junior high for nine years in Dickinson and Bismarck. She served as a counselor, registrar and associate professor of humanities at the University of Mary. She was elected Annunciation's prioress in 1996, and on May 16 of this year, she handed the torch to Sister Nancy Miller, who succeeds her as prioress.

Ackerman said those who have had the privilege of knowing Sister Susan remember her graciousness.

"As prioress, she embodied the qualifications spelled out by St. Benedict, listening with the ear of her heart, respecting and loving each person, and representing Christ within the monastic community, gently leading by word and example the genuine love of a seeker and friend of God."

The Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery are grateful for the outpouring of prayerful support, Ackerman said.

Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the monastery and will continue there until noon Monday. A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Annunciation Monastery chapel.

Services are at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel, Benedictine Center For Servant Leadership. Visitation will be held at the Benedictine Center from 2:30 p.m. until the time of the funeral.