…Tewksbury D.P.W., Veteran, Tewksbury P.A.C.; 83
TEWKSBURY - Leo T. Bernardi Jr., age 83, a well known and active member of the Tewksbury community, died peacefully, surrounded by his beloved children, at the Westford House, on Sunday afternoon, March 20. He was the beloved husband for 51 years of Barbara A. (Donovan) Bernardi, who died in 2010.
Leo was born in Malden, a son of Leo and Bernice (Young) Bernardi, and was raised in Everett. He and Barbara moved to Tewksbury in 1960 to raise their family. The Bernardi’s were communicants of St. William’s Parish.
During the Korean War, Leo served aboard LST 883, an amphibian assault craft in Korea. He was honorably discharged with wartime disabilities. Leo was proud of his service, and was an active life-member at the D.A.V. Post 110 in Tewksbury, and an active life-member at the V.F.W. Post 8164 in Tewksbury. He and his wife were also members of the former Tewksbury Patriotic Activities Committee, and the former Tewksbury Homecoming Committee. He and his wife were “doers” willing to take on any task to insure success of the events they helped to shape and implement.
Prior to his retirement, Leo was a heavy-equipment operator for the Town of Tewksbury.
He is survived by his beloved children, Mary Sain of Groton, MA, Jean Silk and her husband Joseph of Westford, Gail Roberge and her husband Douglas of Dracut, Julie Bernardi and her husband Raymond Johnson of Littleton, and David Bernardi of Lowell; ten grandchildren, Matthew, Alicia, Adam, and Kellie Silk, Stephanie and Christopher Sain, Tyler and Madison Roberge, Nathan and Alex Johnson; his siblings, Mark and wife Debbie Bernardi of CA, Jean Altman of CA, Betty Ferren of NY, Pat and husband Jim Kearley of TX, and Dan Pierce of TX; a sister-in-law, Mary A. Kane of Tewksbury; and many nieces and nephews.
Leo was predeceased by his beloved son, 2nd Petty Officer, Joseph Bernardi, U.S.N.; and his step mother, Katherine Larkin Bernardi formerly of San Jose, CA.
Visiting hours Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, Ph. (800in MA or 978) 851 2950. His Funeral Service will be held Friday at 10:00 a.m. in the Funeral Home. Burial with Navy Honors will be in Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorials to The Lowell Wish Project, 1A Foundry St., Lowell, MA 01852 Ph. 978 441-9474 will be appreciated. tewksburyfuneralhome.com