Patricia Bernhardt

Patricia “Ann” Bernhardt, age 85, of Chestnut Ridge, NY and formerly of Waldwick, NJ, passed away, surrounded by family members at her bedside on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Allentown, PA. Born in Weehawkin, NJ, Ann and her parents, sister, Joan, and brother, John, lived in Waldwick, NJ and part time in Foley, AL near their parents’ flower farm - a time Ann truly cherished.  In 1961, upon marrying her high school sweetheart, Harold “Buddy” Bernhardt, they moved to Mahwah, NJ and started their family there, bringing their sons Christopher and Michael into the world in 1964 and 1965.  They later moved to Rockland County, NY and had their daughter, Paula in 1968. They lived the rest of their married life in that same home in Chestnut Ridge, NY.

Ann graduated secretarial school after graduating from St. Luke’s High School in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ - a place she always held near and dear to her heart.  After marrying, she remained a dedicated homemaker and also returned to the workforce in 1979, when she decided to put her excellent facility with numbers and money management to use at a local Bricklayer’s union in Nyack, NY.  She was very proud of her ability to keep every union worker’s exact pension amount in her memory and the men knew they could trust her to keep it all straight.  When Ann was younger she really enjoyed playing tennis and going on walks and hikes.  She relished an adventure, of which she shared many with her best friend of 65 years, Nancy - they liked to imagine themselves as Thelma and Louise.  Nancy and Ann’s bond was such that they considered each other second moms to their children - a rare type of friendship that death cannot destroy. Their husbands, Buddy and Dick shared the same bond - a double date matched in Heaven. Ann’s brother John remembers his sister as a fun loving person - whether going to parties or concerts as a teenager, weddings as an adult, or a road trip with her dear friends or her daughter.  She was innocently mischievous!  When Ann and John would talk on the phone she would always go back to those memories fondly, laughing as she described them. Another dear friend, Judy, will miss her friendship and the long phone calls they would have about life, family, and the many fun times they shared.  Her grandchildren remember her as a loving, generous lady - outwardly proud of her grandchildren’s special talents and a  grammy who loved a silly face and a good laugh.  She also enjoyed many a sing-a-long with her granddaughter Sarai and the outstanding artwork of her grandson Ian and granddaughter Angelina.  Ann’s daughter Paula had a close bond with her and a lifetime of great memories - a list too long to mention.  Her sons, Christopher and  Michael remember her as a fiercely protective mom who was always there for them through thick and thin, no matter what.  Sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews will always cherish memories of her as loving and wholly dedicated to both immediate and extended family - she always had a kind word and was always supportive in times of need.

She is survived by her children, Chris and his daughter, Angelina Bernhardt-Meli, Mike (Nora Driscoll) and step-son, Ian Healy, and Paula (Vladimir Misic) and their daughter Sarai Misic.

She was predeceased by her husband, Buddy, sister Joan Daley, and parents John and Veronica Dirkmaat.

A Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 10:00 am at St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church, 340 Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423.  

Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, 340 Ridge Road, North Arlington, NJ 07031 at 11:45 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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