Sister Mary Beatrice, a member of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, died Saturday of cardiac arrest at her order's mother house in Catonsville. She was 83.

Born Matilde Hernandez in Cardenas, Cuba, she entered her Roman Catholic religious order Sept. 3, 1939. She professed her vows at St. Frances Convent on East Chase Street in 1942.

From 1948 to 1961, she worked in schools in Cuba.. She then moved to Baltimore and became the portress - the sister assigned to monitor the front door - at St. Frances Academy, her order's school. From 1964 to 1979, she was sacristan at the Catonsville convent.

Services were held yesterday.

She is survived by a brother and three sisters, all in Cuba.