IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Fr.

Fr. Bernardy Profile Photo

Bernardy

January 11, 1929 – November 13, 2012

Obituary

Rev. Fr. Patrick A. Bernardy, 83, of Niagara, entered eternal life Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at Dickinson County Healthcare System, Iron Mountain. He was the seventh of nine children and a twin, born January 11, 1929, in Menominee, Mich., to the late Albert and Julia (O'Neill) Bernardy. Patrick was raised on a farm in Walsh, Wis., owned by his grandparents and run by his father. He grew up in a close knit, loving family, learning the discipline of hard work and the love of sharing Christian principles. When Patrick was in his late teens, he found work in local shipyards, but in 1950, while selling typewriters with his brother-in-law in Waterloo, Iowa, he decided to become a priest. During his seminary years, Patrick found summer work in the paper mill in Marinette. He entered Jordan Seminary in Menominee in September of 1950 for a two-year preparatory training and then transferred to the Green Bay Diocesan Minor Seminary in St. Nazianz, Wis. After two years, Patrick was sent to St. John Seminary in Collegeville, Minn., for his philosophy and theology training and was ordained at St. Francix Xavier Cathedral by Bishop Stanislaus V. Bona on June 11, 1960. The next day, he said his first Mass at his home parish, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Marinette. After ordination, Fr. Patrick served the Lord in the Manitowoc, New London, and Green Bay areas as an assistant and was assigned as pastor to St. Anthony Church, Oconto Falls in 1971, serving the people there until July of 1979, at which time he accepted the position of pastor at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Niagara, where he served for almost 20 years. One of Fr. Patrick's greatest joys was the building of the new Maryhill Manor in Niagara. Sr. Mary Francis and Fr. Patrick realized a new dwelling was needed when the old hotel no longer met the Wisconsin codes and remodeling the old building was not an option. With support from the local people, the Diocese, and the Government, their dream came true. Today, the new Maryhill is serving the community with excellent care and an enthusiastic staff. Fr. Patrick was still serving as a Senior Priest doing what he could for clients, staff, and volunteers at Maryhill. He is survived by one brother, Francis "Johnny" Bernardy, Marinette; two sisters, Joyce Meschar, Louisville, Ky., Betty Ann Edlebeck, Wausaukee; numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Fr. Patrick was preceded in death by three brothers, Albert, Harold, and Raymond Bernardy; two sisters, Irene Dal Santo, and his twin Patricia Elmer. The visitation will be Monday, November 19, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Niagara. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated 11:00 a.m., Monday at the church. Most Reverend Robert F. Morneau, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay and Most Reverend Robert J. Banks, Retired Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay will officiate. Reverend Matthew Settle will be the homilist with other priests of the Diocese of Green Bay concelebrating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Walsh, Wis. You may light a candle in remembrance of Fr. Bernardy or leave a condolence for his family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home, Niagara Chapel, to honor Fr. Patrick's Legacy of Life.
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