Edward Lawrence Bernard

Edward Lawrence Bernard died peacefully at his home September 4th, 2005, a few weeks before his 90th birthday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 AM Friday, September 9th at Christ the King Catholic Church. Dr. Bernard was born October. 31, 1915 at the family home at 815 South Walnut in Springfield. His father, Dr. Emil Lawrence Bernard, was a general practitioner who delivered more than 5, 000 babies in his career, among them his own children. His mother, Clara Reisch Bernard, was a granddaughter of Francis Sales Reisch, who started Reisch Brewery in 1849. From 1932-1935 Dr. Bernard attended the University of Notre Dame, then entered St. Louis University’s School of Dentistry. He graduated three years later, on the same day his brother William graduated from Washington University Medical School. (Their father attended Bill’s ceremony, their mother Ed’s.) He loved dentistry which he practiced for 60 years in Springfield, finally retiring at the age of 83. He was a man with many lifelong friends and hobbies. From his childhood on, he spent summers fishing in Portage Lake, Michigan where his family had a summer home and in the Springfield area, he fished Lake Petersburg, knowing all the special spots. Year around when the weather would permit, he could be found playing golf at the Illini Country Club and played his last round of golf with his brother, George, two days before he died. He also avidly played bridge and billiards. Dr. Bernard was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 48 years, Frances McEvoy Bernard, who died in 1991; and by their fifth child, Edward Jr. who died in a car accident in 1979 at age 21. He was also preceded in death by three brothers, William in 2004, Walter in 1969, and John (Jack) in 1991. He is survived by four children: George Edward Bernard of South Bend, IN; Thomas Joseph Bernard and wife, Wendy Moran, of State College, PA; Catherine Anne Bernard and husband, William Sandberg, of Takoma Park, MD; and Mary Bernard Magrinat and husband, Gustav C. Magrinat, of Greensboro, NC; as well as by his grandchildren: Thomas Magrinat and wife Amy Magrinat, Evan and Brian Moran Bernard, and Claire, Julia and Alexander Sandberg-Bernard, and a great-grandchild on the way. He is also survived by his sister, Emily A. Bernard of Springfield, IL; his brother, Rev. George C. Bernard of Portland, OR; and his dear friend, Mrs. Frances Pedrucci. Dr. Bernard’s brother, the Rev. George C. Bernard, CSC, will celebrate the funeral Mass. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM Thursday September 8th at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home. Visitation will begin with a prayer service at 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Friend-in-Deed, Attn: Nancy Evans, 1 Copley Plaza, P.O. Box 219, Springfield, IL 62705, Lincoln Public Library, 326 7th St., Springfield, IL 62701, Springfield, IL 62701 or to Blessed Sacrament Church, 1725 S. Walnut, Springfield, IL 62704.