Bernard Michael Alexander

Bernard Michael Alexander, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, passed peacefully into eternal rest on March 3, 2026, at the age of 93. In the quiet early hours of the morning, at 2:20 a.m., Bernard died peacefully in his sleep — a grace he often prayed for and one that God graciously granted.

Bernard was born in 1932 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, into a family of five brothers and one sister. After the early loss of both of his parents, Bernard and his brothers were lovingly raised by their eldest sister, whose care and sacrifice helped shape the man he would become. Through the years, Bernard eventually became the last surviving member of his childhood family.

He was the proud father of seven children — Aubrey, Terry, Charmaine, the late Tyrone, Heloise, Romaine, and Kishan — six with his first wife, Audrey, and one son with his wife of almost 51 years, Yvonne.

Although his children and his family spanned the globe, Bernard’s legacy continues through his fourteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, all of whom — even from afar — brought him immense joy.

A deeply religious and pious man, Bernard was raised Baptist but later converted to Catholicism. His Catholic faith was a defining part of his life, and he was known for his prayerfulness and his devotion to St. Anthony.

Bernard’s career began in Sri Lanka, where he first worked as a secretary in the police department before later joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His work eventually led him to serve at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington, D.C., bringing him to the United States in 1984. After five years of service at the embassy, Bernard continued building a life in America. Sponsored by a U.S. company, he obtained his green card in 1994 and proudly became a United States citizen in 1999. He later worked for the Maryland state government from 2000 until his retirement in 2015.

Bernard and his wife Yvonne lived in Gaithersburg, Maryland, for more than twenty years before moving in with their son Kishan and daughter-in-law, Seema, and their children — Sareena and Raina — in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2017. His life was filled with laughter, family visits, and the lively presence of the many dogs Bernard adored — Sandy, Bubba, Zoe, Brooklyn, and Taji.

Bernard found joy in the simple things in life. He loved sitting outside on the sun deck, carefully positioning his chair so he could bask in the warmth of the sun. He enjoyed cooking Sri Lankan specialties for his family and friends, cruising in convertibles with the wind on his face, watching the global news, listening to music, and singing and dancing to the songs of Jim Reeves, Daniel O’Donnell and traditional Sri Lankan baila music. He was also always up for a gathering or a party.

Above all, Bernard will be remembered as a joyful, jolly, and generous man. He loved his wife Yvonne and could not have lived so long without the tremendous love and care she gave him throughout the years. Bernard had a beautiful smile, a charismatic spirit, and a remarkable ability to find the good in life and in the people around him.

He will be deeply missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and friends —all who had the privilege of knowing him.

As people remember Bernard, his family hopes he will be remembered for the qualities that defined his life: his kindness, generosity, joyful spirit, and unwavering love for God and his family.

A Funeral Service will be held at DeVol Funeral Home, 10 East Deer Park Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20877, US, on March 9, 2026, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.