Bernie is lovingly laid to rest with her devoted and faithful husband Howard of 50 years at the Moreland Park Cemetery in Parkville, MD.  💞🕊

In Loving Memory Mom Mom, 
Love your Great-Grandchildren, Anna, Philip, Winston, Jack, Jude, Daniel, Lena, Clementine, Helena and Vera     💗💙💙💙💙💙💗💗💗💗

Friday, April 16th, the funeral mass for Bernie was held at St. Philip Neri Church in Linthicum and Fr. DeAscanis presided.  Bernie was a founding member of the Baltimore Opus Dei group, a Catholic religious organization which Father is also a member. 
Bernie’s children Andrew, Linda, Ed, John and Diane covered the casket with a white funeral pall to begin the funeral mass. The white cloth symbolizes the white robe Bernie wore at Baptism, a symbol of her purity and holiness.  As Father blessed the casket with holy water he said “Bernie is spotless without sin she is full of grace today”


During the Christian Wake with Fr. Sal at the funeral home,  Bernie’s oldest granddaughter Danielle gave the following eulogy. 

A month today since you past and our first Mother’s Day without you.   We miss you so much! 😢 🥰                                                                  Thank you Mom for being so generous and open to life, bringing 8 children into this world.   We know life brings many difficulties and joys.   Thank you Mom for teaching us how to navigate life with a strong faith in God, and with love and forgiveness.   I thank God for choosing you as my Mom and  I thank you Mom, for giving me the gift of life and  being the best Mom.   The first sound I ever heard was your heartbeat ❤️ I will love you always!
                                       Happy Mothers’s Day Mom 💐

I remember taking a taxi with Mom into downtown Baltimore shopping for Easter outfits at the Hecht Company.   I was around 8 and I will never forget the yellow dress and white Easter bonnet.   At about age 50 and after raising all 8 of us, Mom was finally able to get her drivers license. 

I also remember Mom making sure I had new clothes for the 8th grade field trip to Hershey Park.   Wearing a school uniform everyday made new clothes a big deal.  I recently realized my love of clothes and fashion were from her.   Great memories of Mom chaperoning the trip that day in June, 1973. 





On Sunday May 2,  exactly 3 weeks after her passing we celebrated Mom’s 90th heavenly birthday.  We ignited a lantern at her resting place and sent it off into the clouds in her memory.   We also enjoyed O’s themed cupcakes in her honor. 

Mom & Dad (Bernie & Howard) on their Wedding Day 

4/28/56

Happy Anniversary in Heaven, together again! ❤️

Danielle Rhinehart (1st granddaughter of Bernie) and family sent this beautiful Irish bouquet. 

Mom passed away on Divine Mercy Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter.  Faustina Kowalski (Sister of Our Lady of Mercy) was personally visited by Jesus.  The image was of the risen Lord from whose heart shone two rays, one red (representing blood) and the other "pale" (symbolizing water), with the words, "Jesus I trust in you" at the bottom.  Faustina wrote in her diary that Jesus told her, "I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. "  St. Faustina was canonized a Saint in the year 2000 by Pope John Paul II and he proclaimed that the second Sunday of Easter would be known as Divine Mercy Sunday.  The celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday is an opportunity to reflect on how God's mercy can overcome sin and, as the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments states, "a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that mankind will  experience in years to come."

Mom had a scare as a child.  She used to collect bottles floating around at the pier.   There was a moment she fell in, and someone saved her after coming back up three times.  This picture that we found of her looking so relaxed and happy at the pier was nice to see.  

Mom,

My heart aches for another day with you.  But I know the Lord called you at the right time because it was His time.  Knowing you are with Dad and Nana again comforts me.  

Diane 

Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Author: Anonymous

I feel so blessed to have married into such a wonderful family. It’s a gift that my children get to carry on Mom Mom’s legacy as two of her great grandchildren. I will always remember the beautiful visual of her funeral mass in the newly renovated St. Philip Neri church that my mother-in-law, Linda, helped design. I am grateful to be surrounded and inspired by such strong, faith filled women.

I loved hearing Mom-Mom tell a story. She could remember details from distant memories and it  always impressed me. 

She was the first person I knew who attended daily mass and I wondered at her devotion as a child. In later years, when I had opportunities to attend weekday masses I thought of her and came to enjoy the early morning peace in the mass and those fruitful days that followed.

I cherish my memories of her and value all that her life has taught me. 

I love and miss you, Mom-Mom.

Whenever we had family gatherings at Greenhill or just went to visit, I remember mom-mom would stand at the front door smiling and waving as we got in the car to leave. It didn't matter how long it took for us to all get in the car and actually leave, she always stood there waiting and watching to make sure we were all safe. Now, as an adult, I still picture her standing there, waving and smiling to me as I drive away.

Like Danielle, I remember Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop at all of our sporting events, birthdays, and special occasions. A really impressive feat considering they did the same for a dozen+ grandkids! This made me feel special as a kid and taught me a lasting lesson on the importance of family. Today I see my Mom and Dad embody those same values and I’m thankful. 

Rest in well-earned, eternal peace, Mom-Mom. 

Love,
Nick

Mom-Mom, I am so grateful that you and Pop-Pop were always there for me and all your grandchildren,  to attend and celebrate all of our growth milestones, academic and athletic achievements, sacraments and birthdays. Your smile and hugs will always be cherished. Your wit and wisdom grown from your love of reading and prayer will always be remembered.   Your love of Faith and Family will live on through us and our children.  Love, Danielle
 Eternal Rest Eternal rest grant unto Mom-Mom, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Every time I was in the presence of Mrs. Thomas and her husband Howard I felt pure love.   I saw 'all smiles'.  How truly wonderful she is is exemplified by the beautiful loving family she is responsible for.  I am privileged  to have known her and to indeed to have been
 a part of her family.  We are all connected in one way or another and I am very happy to be 'connected' to Mrs. Thomas.  She lived a long and wonderful life and it is my honor to have known her.  May our good Lord watch over all who are left behind.  With deep LOVE, Lewis 


Though we haven't had a chance to see each other in years, probably since Dad passed 30 years ago, I do remember fondly the family gatherings/reunions even with Aunt Annie aka "Anna Bananas" at her house along with a wedding and other celebrations too.  She had a wonder smile and caring way about her, which seemed genuine heart making you feel attentive in our conversation with her.  And oh how proud she was of her child and grand's she always shared 🌹💕

I owe so much to the Thomas family, especially Carol and Linda--things that cannot be expressed in an on- line message.     I am sorry that I will be in South Carolina on the day of the wake and funeral, but you will be with me in prayer.    A big hug to all, mary

I have known Linda (Thomas) Rhinehart since the early grade school years.  In those years, I have met many of her family members.  One thing I can say about Mrs. “Bernie” Thomas is that she always had a smile on her face.  You could tell she was very proud of her family.  What a blessing to have so many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She is smiling from heaven alongside her husband now.  May all of your tears turn into smiles as you remember the good times shared.  God bless you all. 

We love you Mom Mom ❤️ Rest In Peace 🕊

It  was nice to have met you. Enjoy a well earned and needed rest.


OBITUARY

Margaret Bernardine "Bernie" Thomas

Schimunek Funeral Home

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