Geraldine Ann Bernardo
April 4, 1944 - November 11, 2018
On the beautiful morning of November 11th, 2018 our loving sister and cherished aunt peacefully went to heaven.
Geri was born in Draper, Utah to her loving Italian immigrant parents Antonio and Fannie Bernardo. She always said how thankful she was to have grown up on a farm with wide open space to walk, play, and climb trees. She loved the experience of growing up with all of the farm animals and was especially fond of the kittens.
When Geri was 18 she moved to Salt Lake City. She worked at the Utah State Board of Education for approximately 40 years and was a very dedicated employee who always spoke highly of her colleagues.
Geri had many passions including walking (very fast), hiking, biking, knitting, and baking. She loved to explore new places in Salt Lake City. Her nieces and nephews always looked forward to hikes and time outdoors which was her favorite activity. Holidays were always enjoyed with her delicious baked treats and her famous cheeseball!
Geri was kind, giving, and always there to support anyone who needed help. Geri liked to give and never expected anything in return. She truly had a heart of gold.
We are so thankful to have been blessed with all that she taught us about kindness and being selfless.
She is proceeded in death by her Father Antonio Bernardo, her Mother Fannie Bernardo and her sisters Frances Rose Bernardo and Josephine Mary Bernardo Sawyer.
She is survived by her siblings John Bernardo (Henrietta), Floreen Bernardo Sticka (Bill), Francine Bernardo Dailey (James), Jean Bernardo Caruso (James), Louise Bernardo, Jimmy Bernardo (Sandra), and Paul Bernardo (Jean) along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
The Holy Rosary will be recited at 6 PM on November 16th, 2018 at Starks Funeral Home (3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84106) after which friends may call at the celebration of life from 7 PM to 9 PM. The Liturgy of the Resurrection will be held November 17th, 2018 at 12:00 PM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church (1085 E 700 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84102). Interment to follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery (4th Avenue & T Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84103).
Special thanks to Visiting Angels of West Jordan and the staff of Comfort Worx Hospice who offered Geri much comfort during her last days along with the staff of Beacon Crest Senior Living (she loved her cookies at Beacon Crest!). In lieu of flowers please donate to Huntsman Cancer Institute and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
In Loving Memory
It was with great sorrow that I read of Geri’s passing in this morning’s Tribune. The obituary described Geri extremely well – she was definitely “old-school†and not in any negative way. I worked with her in varying capacities at the State Board of Education for most of her 40 year career. She was capable, dependable, personable and always willing to do what it took to get the job done correctly and on time. Oh, and she was insightful and candid – you always knew where you stood with Geri. I trust her family will always remember her fondly and realize how much she contributed to theirs and other’s lives.
Geri was the rock of the department when I worked at USOE. She kept us all in line, bailed us out when we got in trouble, and made us laugh when we needed a lighter mood. She was the same every day. Reliable, dependable, and quick to laugh. The office was a better place for having Geri in it. It’s hard to realize that she’s gone when she was always the life of the office. Rest In Peace, Geri, the world was a better place for having you in it and you will be dearly missed.
May the Family know that I share their grief. How? Because I too have lost loved ones in death, but have found a very comforting message of Hope that the Bible gives and really from Gods Own Son, Jesus Christ which has lifted me up in the days that seem so gloomy. We find him here giving us a future Guarrantee that he will resurrect ones like your dear loved one back to life again and then another future promise found in Gods word the Bible in Psalm 37:29 which says: The righteous will possess the earth and they will live forever on it. So in other words there will be a time in the future, when Gods will be done on the earth and all of those who have died will be raised up AMD be able to live right here on this earth, forever. So may these words bring some real relief as they have done for me.
In Loving Memory
