Bernardine Marie Lynch of Somerset, N.J., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice in Fredon, N.J. She was 83.
Daughter of the late James and Mary (nee Fitzsimons) Gormley, Bernardine graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset, N.Y., and studied at St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y., and the Grace Institute in Manhasset, N.Y. She worked at W.R. Grace in New York City before devoting herself to raising her family.
Bernardine was born in Flushing Queens, N.Y., and grew up in Bayside Queens, N.Y. She moved to Bridgewater, N.J., in 1976 and resided there for 39 years before relocating to Somerset in 2015.
Mrs. Lynch enjoyed weekly phone calls with her identical twin sister, Jeanie, for 56 years, playing her organ, sewing, reading, playing bridge, Irish feis music, and attending Broadway and community theater productions. Bernardine’s most cherished moments were spent with her loving family that included 5 children, 13 grandchildren, and 16 nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 54 years, James J. Lynch Jr., in 2018, as well as her brother Joseph Gormley.
Survivors include her children, John and his wife, Suzanne, of Green Township, Thomas and his wife, Elizabeth, of Frenchtown, N.J., Kevin and his wife, Christina, of Maplewood, N.J., Robert and his wife, Katy, of Independence and Daniel and his wife Carole of Concord, Mass.; grandchildren, John, Kaitlyn, Allyson, Ryan, Brenden, Declan, Michaela, Colin, Paige, Kourtney, Christopher, Daniel, and Dominic; sisters, Margaret and her husband, John Detko, and Regina and her husband, William Murray.
Due to Covid the family was to hold a private funeral service. Arrangements were made by Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home, Newton, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice (karenannquinlanhospice.org/memorials).