Obituary of Bernadette A. Nelson, 88

Bernadette A. Nelson, 88, of State College, and formerly of Westfield, N.J., died peacefully Sunday, March 21, 2010, at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College. Born Nov. 26, 1921, in Westfield, N.J., she was the youngest child of the late Joseph and Mary Whelan.

Bernadette resided for 83 years in Westfield, N.J., before moving to State College in June of 2005. She was the last surviving member of her family, which included five brothers. On Nov. 29, 1947, she married Frederick J. Nelson, her husband of 58 years, who predeceased her on Oct. 20, 2005. She was a graduate of Holy Trinity High School in Westfield. In addition to being a mother and homemaker, she worked as a bank teller, a typist, and a real-estate office manager.

She is survived by her son John Nelson and wife Annie, and her daughter Joanne Bennett and husband Les, all of State College. She is also survived by four grandchildren, a brand new great-granddaughter, three step-grandchildren, and four step-great-grandchildren.

She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and St. Helen's Catholic Church in Westfield. Bernadette's joys in life were centered in her family. A kind, gentle woman, she was a devoted wife, and a wonderful and caring Mother. Although she abhorred most exercise, she was an excellent bowler, a competent bridge and canasta player, and a proficient knitter and embroiderer. Bernadette devoted her life to her husband Fred, and to her children and grandchildren, who are always mindful and forever grateful for her total and unconditional love. With great courage in the last years of her life, she bore nursing home and illness with grace and acceptance, and greeted each new day with joy and optimism. Bernadette was a gracious matriarch. Her whole family looked forward to her Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts, which she would host with her best linens, finest china, and many varieties of overcooked vegetables.

Bernadette's core philosophy of life embodied the total denial of all negative aspects of reality. Her unshakably optimistic vision was inspiring, often irritating, and always amazing, because it totally worked for her. For 88 years she used this uncanny ability to encourage reality to conform to her positive expectations, and the astounding thing was, it almost always did. She was a true master of positive intentionality.

Friends will be received Friday evening, March 26, 2010, from 6-8 p.m., at the Dooley Colonial Funeral Home on Westfield Ave., Westfield, N.J. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 27, 2010, at St. Helen's Church in Westfield. She will be buried next to her beloved husband Fred, at St. Gertrude's Cemetery, Colonia, N.J.