Obituary of D. June Bernas

Dorothy June Shank Bernas (June 20,1921-June 11, 2023) Longtime Olean and Allegany resident June Bernas passed away peacefully on June 11, 2023 in Maumelle, Arkansas, where she lived with her daughter, Mary (Bernas) Heiges and her son-in-law, Gordon Heiges. Born on June 20, 1921, June was nine days shy of 102 years of age. Throughout her vibrant life, June had a strong sense of faith, incorporating prayer into virtually every family event at home, including the requisite Memorare at the start of every road trip in the family’s blue Buick station wagon. She embraced adventure, fun, and fashion, often on full display in homemade bunny cakes at Easter or in stylish suits and aviator sunglasses she sported around town. June also dedicated herself to community service, assembling meals on wheels into her early 90’s for elders, sometimes 10-20 years her junior. Hers was a life lived thoroughly and lovingly. The daughter of George Shank and Mary Lilly Shank, June grew up in Olean, where she attended public elementary school and boarded at St. Elizabeth’s Academy for high school. June married Emil Jacob Bernas on October 19, 1941 and together they had four children: Timothy Bernas, Mary (Bernas) Heiges, Julie Bernas-Pierce, and Maureen Bernas. June and Jake lived with their growing family in Rochester and Olean, eventually moving to their long-time family home on Third Street in Allegany. They developed many life-long, fun-loving friends there. It was a big decision for June to attend St. Elizabeth’s Academy as a boarder. This arose from an incapacitating injury that befell her father, followed by her mother’s need to work full time to support the family. Prior to her attendance at St. Elizabeth’s, June’s sister and brother moved out of Olean to live with relatives in Indianapolis and Detroit, respectively. The three siblings stayed close throughout their adult years, visiting one another’s families often, which included late night Euchre games, delicious barbecues, cousin antics, and an abundance of laughter. June blossomed at St. Elizabeth’s Academy and kept contact with many of her classmates over the years. She served as a repeat class president and hosted a student show on the local radio station, played drums in the Academy Band, and became an accomplished swimmer (her classmates called her “Sharkie”). She said the St. Elizabeth’s Franciscan Sisters provided her with care and appreciation at a time in her life when she needed it most. Following her graduation from St. Elizabeth’s, June met and fell in love with Emil (Jake) Bernas (1917-1970), a St. Bonaventure University football player, and post-graduate flight instructor. While June worked at a local stationery store after high school, Jake would come into the store and purchase one small item, just so he could see and talk with her. He tried talking her into running a stationery supply chain through him to the St. Bonaventure students, but when that didn’t work, he asked June out and the rest was history. Periodically, during her years as a wife, mother and homemaker, June would take part-time employment to contribute to the family income. Christmas was always an important holiday in the family and her extra jobs helped to splurge and fill the living room with family gifts. June’s fashion sense found its outlet as she was also an accomplished seamstress, with Simplicity patterns scattered about the dining room table. She would make her daughters’ clothing for special events: sewing into the early morning hours as she created prom dresses and intricate Halloween costumes, after household tasks were wrapped up for the night. If she missed a household task or two, she would, with a wry smile, remind her family that if parents were remembered for their clean toilets, they had somehow failed their children. As her children grew, June pursued an associate degree in library science and worked as a librarian at St. Bonaventure Parochial School, Archbishop Walsh High School, St. Bonaventure University, and the Allegany Public Library. She loved being around books and guiding students of widely varying interests and ages to the joy of finding just the right book for the moment. With her adult children living in Texas, Arkansas, California and neighboring Olean, June took to the skies as often as possible to visit the out-of-towners to take part in her grandchildrens’ lives and occupy a front seat at their birthdays and graduations. She especially loved being involved in the day-to-day lives of Maureen’s two children as they progressed from preschool through to their graduations at Olean High School. In 1984, while visiting the San Francisco Bay Area, June rode the cable cars, went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Napa Wine Country and attended the Democratic National Convention through connections of a family friend. On the way to the airport for her return trip, June was asked about the most memorable part of her visit. She replied, “I can’t believe people in California can actually grow lemons in their front yards!” In 2013, June moved from the family home in Allegany to live closer to her daughter, Mary, and her family in Little Rock, Arkansas. Until that time, she continued her love of community service through volunteer work and was nominated for recognition by the staff at the Cattaraugus County Department of the Aging for having accumulated 2,355 volunteer hours for her services at St. Bonaventure’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts; the St. Bonaventure Outreach Corps; and the Allegany Senior Wellness and Nutrition Program (SWAN). June was also a Eucharistic Minister and active parishioner at St. Bonaventure Parish Church, which was the Bernas Family’s parish throughout their lives in Allegany. June was predeceased by her husband; sister, Marcia Shank Brant; and her brother, William Shank. She is survived by her son, Timothy Bernas; and daughters, Mary (Bernas) Heiges, Julie Bernas-Pierce, and Maureen Bernas; eleven grandchildren: Craig Bernas, Kristin (Bernas) McCoy; Timothy Heiges, Ryan Heiges, Carey (Heiges) McClain; Keegan, Colin, Jordan and Liam Pierce; Hilary and Reid Gan; and seven great grandchildren: Ally and Tegan Bernas; Hannah and Max Heiges; Jake McClain; Rory and Josie Kempf; treasured spouses, and many loving nieces and nephews. Her family never heard June say she was tired of living. She believed God had granted her each new day and it was her duty to live each and every one to the fullest. Indeed, she did. Visitation (10 AM) and Mass (11 AM) will take place at St. Bonaventure Parish Church in Allegany on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. Burial next to her beloved, Jake, at St. Bonaventure Cemetery will follow, with reception at Doyle Hall, St. Bonaventure University from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Contributions in June’s name will be gratefully accepted at: The Bridge Outreach Program, St. Bonaventure Parish, 95 East Main Street, Allegany, NY 14706; or Friedsam Library, St. Bonaventure University, 3261 West State Road, St. Bonaventure, NY, 14778, Attention: Ann Tenglund. June’s family is deeply grateful to Saline Memorial Hospice of Bryant, Arkansas, for their loving care and support throughout June’s final years. Arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean.