She was born to Joseph and Josephine, in 1918 in St Louis, MO and graduated from Rosati-Kain in 1937, an all-girls Catholic Parochial high school. After high school “Bernie” worked as a switchboard operator at a local dairy in St. Louis, married Jack E. Bowers on April 19, 1941, and moved into the four family flat above her parents on Chouteau Avenue in St. Louis, where they started their family.
Bernie learned to drive at the age of 30 and her driving instructor noted that she didn’t like to come to a full stop or downshift to first gear. This driving skill later proved beneficial when raising four boys on her own, while Jack was out of town working for long periods of time.
In 1951 they purchased a neighborhood tavern and revitalized it into what was dubbed by the neighborhood as the Miracle on Chouteau Ave, a reference to the 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street.
In 1953 they moved to the suburbs of Glendale, MO and raised their four boys, James Joseph, Thomas Michael, Joseph Henry, and John Dennis.
After her boys grew older, she returned to the workforce in 1962 as a switchboard operator for KSH Plastics in Warson Woods, Mo. This was the perfect job for her vivacious and friendly personality. She was loved by her co-workers for her ability to make a sometimes stressful environment light-hearted.
In 1973 Bernie and Jack “retired” to Sun City, AZ. It is no surprise that three of their sons followed them to Arizona during the 70’s and raised or started their own families to be near the Matriarch-Bernadine.
In 1978, they moved to Sun City West, AZ as “pioneers” a title given to the first 100 residents. In their spare time Bernie and Jack worked as successful realtors and members of the Million Dollar Club. They both participated in the local Lions Club serving and volunteering the surrounding community.
Bernie loved to host her growing family for birthdays and holidays and had everyone sign her “guest book” upon arrival. The MOST IMPORTANT thing in her life was her family! She loved them and was loved by them. This remains her legacy today.
After Jack, her husband of 54 years, passed away in 1995, she lived alone until 2008 when she moved to Kansas City, Mo. to live with her youngest son John Dennis and his wife, Paula.
She is survived by her four boys and their wives Jimmy & Paula (Rice), Tommy & Nancy, Joey & Debbie, and Denny & Paula; and nine grandchildren and spouses, Jennifer, Bryan; Michael & Gina, Mark & Kelly, Kevin; Laura & Lance, Tommy; Dennis & Jennifer, and T.J.; five step-grandchildren: Lisa Pilsbury, Holly Pace, Garret Cerkvenik, Justin Bowen & Jaime Clark; along with 19 great-grandchildren: Samuel, Malia, Nicholas, Dominic, Bryanna Oguma; Lauren, Katie, Matthew, Ellie Bowers; Addy, Charlie, Emme & Livi Bowers; Jaxson and Alivia Sherrick; Jayson, Joshua, Jacob, & Jonathan Bowers; Six step great-grandchildren, Ford Anton Cerkvenik; Queen and Malik Robinson and Prince Clark; Ray Pace, and Josh Culver. Three nephews, Ronald, Roger, and Richard Marrone and other very important people in her life: Toni Bowers, Janet Olsen, Jill Poole and Jason Oguma.
An online Zoom memorial will be held at 3pm Central Standard Time on Sunday, February 21, 2021.
A Catholic Mass Intention will be streamed on Facebook March 6th, 2021 at 4pm CST from St, Catherine of Sienna Church, Kansas City, MO.
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