Obituary of Dora Di Bernardo

After a brief illness, Dora Di Bernardo passed away at home on Monday surrounded by all those who loved her. Dora was born in Pavia, Italy and came to America on an ocean liner at the age of 13 with her sister, Ada, to join their parents Umberto and Gina Galleani who had come before them. She first settled in Philadelphia and then moved to Flushing NY where she attended school and graduated from Flushing HS. Dora then returned to Philadelphia where she worked in retail at John Wanamaker’s Department Store in Center City. She married Erno Di Bernardo and together they successfully built and operated Di Bernardo’s Food Market in South Philadelphia where they prospered for many years and raised their family. Erno passed away in 1959 which left Dora responsible to raise her 2 children as a single Mom. Dora moved to South Jersey and re-invented herself and retired as a Head Teller at Heritage Bank, now PNC. An inspiration to her family, Dora was a strong, hardworking, determined, realistic woman with good business sense who always had a keen mind and maintained an interest in world news and politics. She loved her family and expected from them what she expected from herself. Ever present to her children and grandchildren, her life style and encouragement inspired her family to strive for a productive, successful, happy life. She leaves behind much that is intangible and indelible in our hearts but what is tangible and will be everlasting are her legendary Christmas cookie recipes. After retirement, Dora lived intermittently with her 2 children moving from Ocean Township NJ, Florida, Tennessee and back to NJ where she finally resided in Tinton Falls. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Erno, her sister Ada and brother George. She is lovingly survived by her children, Mary and Genaro DeSane, Wayside; Thomas and Maria Di Bernardo, Medford. She is proudly survived by her grandchildren, David and Denise DeSane, Gina and Kurt Zeek, Kristina, Jenna and John Di Bernardo and her great-grandchildren; Ryan, Anna, Dylan DeSane and Liam Zeek. Dora is also survived by her many nieces and nephews but in particular her special nieces, Ida Annicelli, Bedford NY and Angela Di Bernardo, Albany NY. She is also survived and grateful to her many friends on Shafto Road and especially to Chuck, Maria and Jean. A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 11 AM at the Church of St. Anselm, 1028 Wayside Rd., Tinton Falls. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held from 10 AM until time of Mass at the church. Burial will be held on Friday at 11 AM at Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, PA. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to honor Dora may be made to The Center, 806 3rd. Ave., Asbury Park, NJ 07712.