Bernadine Campisi Wahl

Bernadine Marie “Bernie” Campisi Wahl, age 88, a native of New Orleans and a resident of Mandeville for the past 15 years, passed away peacefully on Easter Day, April 12, 2020. Bernie lived in Chalmette with her late and beloved husband of 54 years, Robert N. “Bob” Wahl, Sr., until she was displaced in 2005, and relocated to Mandeville. She was a parishioner of St. Jane de Chantal. She was a graduate of Kohn High School (1949) and was employed at St. Bernard Bank and Peoples Bank in St. Bernard for many years. She was a devoted wife, a dedicated and loving mother to 4, a superb grandmother to 12 and doting great-grandmother to 16. She will be remembered best for her many talents, especially her sewing and cooking. She was well-known for her beautiful heirloom sewing of hand-smocked dresses and baby clothes, which she sold in shops in the French Quarter, Lakeview and Birmingham, and all of which her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were lucky enough to receive over the years. She was a true Italian gourmet cook, known for her delicious Potato Salad, Italian Olive Salad and fabulous special Italian Cookies, among other homemade recipes. She lovingly passed on those priceless recipes to her children and grandchildren and generously shared her recipes with family and friends. She loved watching her bluebirds and feeding her squirrels in her backyard. Everything she did was a labor of love which she freely gave to all of her family. Devoted mother of Deborah W. “Debby” Messa, Robert N. “Bobby” Wahl, Jr., Darlene W. Spence and Robin W. White. Very loved mother-in-law of Lester R. Messa, Suzanne Babin Wahl, Robert Spence, and Randall G. White. Adored grandmother of Ryan A. Messa, Christopher J. Messa, Stephen M. Messa, Rachael M. Istre, Robert N. Wahl, III, Melissa W. Richoux, Chance A. Wahl, Andre P. LeBlanc, Brittany L. Welch, Devin S. Desselle, Robyn W. Guillen and Rebecca L. White. Also loved grandmother-in-law of Alysia S. Messa, Kelly P. Messa, Stacy Messa, Kodi Istre, Dr. Courtney Austin Wahl, Jason Richoux, Emily Dawson Wahl, David Welch, Joey Desselle and Juan Guillen. Great-grandmother of Hannah Messa, Allie Messa, Jude Messa, Max Messa, Sydney Messa, Kylie Istre, Brody Istre, Sage Wahl, Sadie Wahl, Landon Richoux, Lanah Richoux, Lucy Richoux, Amelia Welch, Paisley White and Olivia Guillen. She was preceded in death by her parents Frances Ferino and Joseph Campisi. Also survived by sister Kathleen C. Pilleteri and step-sister JoAnn C. Guarino; sister-in-law, Jean Wahl, and brothers-in-law, Harold and Danny, as well as a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the Louisiana Heart Center, especially Dr. Bruce Iteld, Dr. Marc Bernstein and staff for all the years of wonderful care given to both of our parents. A Mass was held in Bernie's honor on Thursday, April 16, 2020, at St. Bernard Memorial Funeral Home. She was laid to rest in St. Bernard Memorial Gardens. A Celebration of Bernie's life will be held at a later date, so all of her family, friends, and loved ones will have the opportunity to say "goodbye" in the way she so truly deserved. To sign and view the family guestbook, please visit www.stbernardmemorial.com.