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Bernadette was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. In 1960, her family moved to Lyndhurst, NJ, where Bernadette performed in many high school productions. Blessed with a natural singing voice, Bernadette performed with the NJ Allstate Chorus for 2 years as well as performing in Opera Festivals during her High School years. Following graduation, she competed in a contest to represent Bergen County at the Worlds Fair in New York, winning second place and proudly performed “It’s a Big Wide Wonderful World” at the NJ pavilion at the Fair. Bernadette also performed in local theater productions.
Bernadette and her husband, Al, met and married in 1966. They settled in Towaco where they raised their 4 children. While being a “stay at home Mom”, Bernadette established a business of home décor, designing, making, and installing window treatments and bedding. She also made decorative wreaths used as birth announcements. She served as cantor at St. Pius X Church in Montville, NJ, where she sang at Masses, weddings and funerals. She performed in community programs. Bernadette was active in the Church CCD programs where she taught CCD to students preparing for Confirmation and also worked in the Pre-Cana programs helping young people prepare for marriage.
Returning to the workplace, Bernadette was Executive Assistant to an International Attorney where she learned Real Estate Management and became Vice President of a Real Estate Management Company managing business properties for European businessmen. After leaving the real estate world, Bernadette was offered the position of Executive Assistant to the President of the Board of Public Utilities in Newark. She then moved onto the Division of Consumer Affairs where, after serving as Executive Assistant to the Director of the Division, she accepted the position of Chief of the Consumer Service Center. In this capacity, Bernadette served as liaison between the Director of the Division and the State Medical Board, the Board of Nursing, Board of Dentistry, Board of Chiropractic and the Board of Respiratory Therapists. She also became a CALA (Consumer Affairs Local Agency) Representative. She ended her professional career retiring from the position as Executive Assistant to the County Administrator of the County of Passaic.
In 2004, Bernadette and her husband purchased a home in the Renaissance at Manchester, moving there on a permanent basis in 2005, where they hoped to enjoy retirement. Unfortunately Bernadette is recently widowed but feels the best decision they made was moving to the Renaissance. It has given her the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, to take up the sport of golf and to perform again. She has performed in many community programs as well as putting on her own productions. She is an active cantor at St. Mary of the Lake RC Church in Lakewood and Holy Family RC Church in Howell.
Bernadette has 6 grandchildren (so far) who are the light of her life. She loves to travel and enjoys polka dancing, reading, sewing, handcrafts, home décor and most importantly her children and grandchildren.
For information on the Ms. New Jersey Senior
America Pageant, please e-mail us at Senior America Management or
call us at 1-800-369-1369 or (732) 746-2598.
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The Ms. Senior America Pageant is
the world's first and foremost pageant to emphasize and give honor to
women who have reached the "Age of Elegance." It is a search
for the gracious lady who best exemplifies the dignity, maturity and
inner beauty of all senior Americans. The Ms. Senior America philosophy
is based upon the belief that seniors are the foundation of America, and
our most valuable treasure. It is upon their knowledge, experience and
resources that the younger generation has the opportunity to build a
better society.
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