A former classmate of mine from Holy Name has passed away. The feeling I had when I read the news was one of great sadness. I have not had contact with Bernadette since we finished 8th grade in 1965, however I remember her and her family very well. I believe that she lived on 7th St. during her childhood. I secretly had a “crush” on Bernadette during grade school. I remember her mom used to help serve breakfast on First Fridays, standing behind the counter in the cafeteria and dishing out those wonderful maple rolls.
To learn of a childhood friend’s passing is a new experience for me. It is certainly one that I will need to deal with in the future, and that will be increasingly difficult.
God be with you Bernadette. My deepest sympathies to your entire family during this difficult time. Know that all of your Holy Name classmates are praying for you and know that you are now at rest in God’s embrace.
Remembrance
Remembrance is a golden chain
Death tries to break,
but all in vain.
To have, to love, and then to part
Is the greatest sorrow of one’s heart.
The years may wipe out many things
But some they wipe out never.
Like memories of those happy times
When we were all together.
~ Author Unknown
Bernadette E. Lucas, 61, of Dillsburg, passed away Saturday, September 22, 2012, at the Manor Care Health Services, York.
She was born February 26, 1951, in Pittsburgh, the daughter of Bernard Lucas of Duquesne and the late Betty Ziele Lucas.
Bernadette was a retired Vice Principal in the Midd West School District and was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Mechanicsburg.
She is survived by two sons, Jorma Z. Lucas of Dillsburg, Paul G. Werntges of Charleston, SC; two daughters, Bernadette G. Werntges of Baltimore, MD, Renee E. Werntges of Dillsburg; one brother, Brian Lucas of Midland, TX; and two sisters, Barb Daniels of Midland, TX and Bonni Hayford of Jacksonville, FL. She also leaves behind three grandchildren, Madeleine Lucas, Scarlett Werntges and Dahlia Payne.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, September 27, 2012, at 10:00 am in her church, 310 Hertzler Rd., Mechanicsburg, PA with the Rev. Monsignor William J. King as Celebrant. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Mechanicsburg, PA. A viewing will be held Wednesday from 7-9 pm in the Cocklin Funeral Home, Inc., 30 N. Chestnut St., Dillsburg, PA.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Heartland Hospice, 3417 Concord Rd., Suite C, York, PA 17402. An online guestbook can be signed at www.cocklinfuneralhome.comPublished in Patriot-News on September 25, 2012
The Duquesne Hunky 
JIM:Sorry to read that you lost a friend.
RIP Bernadette…Went to school for 12 years with her….Prayers to her family….
Jim, I too am saddened by the death of our classmate, Bernadette Lucas. I feel so sad for the family she’s left behind. Truth be known I last saw her in 1969 when we worked together on the Ghost Ship in Kennywood, but somehow she was hard to forget. Bernadette, myself, and Ozell George often ate lunch together that summer, and fellow workers referred to us as the “Mod Squad”. She was always there for others and was a good friend. May God welcome her home . BTW: I believe all of the guys in our class had a secret crush on her. Who wouldn’t have?
Thank you, Jim, for remembering her in your blog. She was more like a sister to me, than a cousin. I will miss her, greatly.
Jim,
Sorry to here about the passing of your classmate Bernadette. May she rest in peace with God.
This past August I attended our 50th reunion, DHS ’62. There were lists of missing (no info) and deceased classmates. There were a few new additions to the deceased list since our last reunion
five years ago. We come into this world alone but are immediately welcomed by our parents, medical staff and the rest of our family. Soon others enter our lives and we enter their lives. We meet them in our neighborhood, at school, at work, at church etc.. They become a part of who we are and we become a part of who they are. When someone I have known passes away, I feel as though a part of me has gone. I still have that special something they contributed to making me who I am, yet they are gone. I guess that is what is ment by the saying “you can’t take it with you”
so that part is left with us. They will be there in that world to welcome us.