August 10, 1924 – June 14, 2013
Margaret “Mausie” Bernardino spent a lifetime sharing her love with everyone she met. That started in St. Louis, where she was born to Pietro and Frances Tocco in 1924. She was blessed with seven siblings - Leo, Louie, Petie, Rose, Sammy, Tony, and Mary. ( Mary, the baby, is the only one living and she was loved very deeply by Margaret.)
Margaret came to California with her family when she was five years old. She grew up in Little Italy where, as a teenager, she met a young man in the neighborhood named Vito. The two were married at the Wedding Bell Chapel in Hillcrest in 1945 and began what would be a model marriage of absolute devotion. The thing about Margaret and Vito was they really liked each other, too, and you could see it in their eyes whenever they were together throughout the 61 years of their marriage.
The first product of their love was their son Tony. Then came daughters Rosina and Fran. To say that Margaret doted on her children would be a huge understatement. She adored them, and spent every waking minute making sure they had what they needed – whether it was clean clothes, delicious food, or loving arms to comfort them. She was the ultimate mother who was always there for her kids – literally and figuratively. When they came home from school, she was there waiting for them. When they needed someone to talk to about a problem, she was there to listen. When they needed someone to watch their kids, she was there. Of course she was. She doted on her grandsons and great grandson, too.
No matter how many people Margaret welcomed into her life and into her heart, she always had room for more. She always wanted people to visit, always loved to have her living room, dining room and kitchen filled with family – including all of her nieces and nephews - and the people her family brought along with them. Everybody was welcomed through her door. And she always was genuinely happy to see whoever it was who arrived on the front porch. In that inimitable voice of hers, she would say, “Oh, hi, so and so! I was just thinking about you! Come on in!”
In the simple and beautiful world Margaret created with Vito, she was happy and always surrounded by people she loved. Losing Vito, and later her sister Rose and her precious son, Tony, were extremely painful for her, but she held up through those losses, knowing there were others who still needed her love and care. She successfully fought breast cancer, and helped members of her extended family weather every storm they ever encountered. She always wanted to help.
The last several weeks were difficult for everyone while Margaret tried to beat the new cancer that would eventually take her away. But she never lost her beautiful smile, her kindness, and her inner radiance. As her daughters would help her to bed at night, she would thank them for all that they did for her. But Rosina and Fran say they are the ones who thank God for every day they had with their mother. They believe it was an honor for them to be raised by such a wonderful woman, and it was an honor for all of us to have known her, and to have been included in her genuine, loving embrace.
Margaret, our loss is heaven’s gain. We will never forget your sense of humor, your beautiful spirit and your ability to bring happiness wherever you were. You will forever be in our hearts
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