Gail Ann Bernardine

Gail Butler Bernardine, 76, entered eternal life on Sunday, February 28, 2021. She was born in Hoboken, NJ, to John and Nancy Butler and grew up in North Bergen, NJ. She graduated from Holy Rosary Academy High School in Union City, NJ, and attended Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey and Berkley Secretarial School in New York City. She met her husband John Bernardine while she was working at American Airlines in New York City. They were married at Our Lady of Fatima on May 1, 1969, in North Bergen, NJ, and moved to Tulsa, OK, in 1969, where they raised their two sons Jeff and Nic, and her beloved Sara and Nola Beth Hardy.

Gail was a devout Catholic and an active member of St. Mary's Church. She not only practiced her faith, but she volunteered countless hours opening a nursery and was instrumental in starting a mothers-day-out program at St. Mary's church called St. Gerard's. She was known as a friendly face that offered encouragement to young mothers.

She began working part-time at Monte Cassino as a Library Assistant, was promoted to the Elementary School Librarian, then moved to the Preschool, where she was a Kindergarten Assistant. Gail retired from Monte Cassino after 38 years, touching the lives of children, instilling in them a love of God and books. She passed on her love of reading to her family and friends through countless book recommendations and book clubs.

Gail was a true Jersey girl and made annual cross-country road trips packing her family into a van to visit family and friends at the Jersey Shore. She loved to spend time on Manasquan Beach and continued a family tradition of long days full of sunshine, laughter, sandcastles, reading, 3 pm coffee, and ice cream on the beach surrounded by family and friends. Gail was a shining example to all; she was devoted to her faith, family, and friends.

Gail and friends started a Women's Association of Water Aerobics in 2004. When she was not at the beach, she enjoyed her pool with her "Wawas." A strong, caring, giving group of ladies beyond just a group of friends but more a sisterhood of women dedicated to service to others. Her passion for reading extended into the Book Club, another group of amazing women. The WAWA's and Book Club were more significant than the sum of the individual members, more a network that together was a team/engine focused on the greater good of themselves and others.

Gail was a proud member of the Assistance League Tulsa. She volunteered weekly in the Bargains Thrift Store. Gail loved helping them raise money for Operation School Bell®, the signature philanthropic program of the Assistance League. When Gail was in other cities, she always wanted to visit the local chapter's thrift store and talk with her newfound friends about their chapter and programs. She did not know a stranger.
Gail is preceded in death by both of her parents, Mother- and Father-in-law Ralph and Mary Bernardine, brother-in-law Ralph Bernardine and his wife Sally, brother-in-law Berry Rothhammer, sister-in-law Helen Bernardine, sister-in-law Louise Galloway and her husband Jack, brother-in-law Dan Hickman, and her great-nephew Shayne Robert Tetrault.

Gail is survived by her greatest blessings, her husband of almost 52 years John Bernardine, Tulsa, OK, son Jeffrey Woods-Bernardine and his wife Madison, Houston, TX, Nicolas Bernardine, New York, NY, Sara Sampson Hardy and her daughter Nola Beth, Sand Springs, OK, sister Joan Rothhammer, Georgetown, TX, brother Bob Butler and his wife Janet, Farmingdale, NJ, Sister-in-law Mary Bergen, Ridgewood, NJ, Brother-in-law Anthony and his wife Gloria, Hawthorne, NJ, sister-in-law Jane Hickman, Hawthorne, NJ. Gail also has a strong love for her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces.

"Please know being your wife and mother has been my favorite blessing..."

As Gail always said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Assistance League of Tulsa: altulsa.org