Joann Marie Bernardy

Mass of Christian Burial for JoAnn Bernardy, 81, of Little Canada, formerly of Lucan, will be Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Lucan. A livestream and recording of the service can be found at lowafc.org, then click the Watch Mass tab. Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the church, with a parish prayer service at 6:00 p.m. and rosary to follow. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service. Interment at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Seaforth will follow a funeral luncheon. JoAnn died on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. JoAnn Marie (Rohlik) Bernardy, 81, was born in Vesta Township, MN, on July 15, 1942, to the late Lawrence and Leona (Crouse) Rohlik. She grew up on a farm near Seaforth and was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. JoAnn attended St Anne’s Catholic School in Wabasso and followed her calling to religious service by becoming a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration at St Rose of Viterbo Convent in LaCrosse, WI, at the age of 17. JoAnn earned her teaching degree from Viterbo University and taught primary grades in Superior, Eau Claire, and Menomonie. After 10 years of religious life, JoAnn left the convent and moved back to Minnesota in pursuit of a different vocation. She became an elementary school teacher in Vesta, and married Nicholas “Nick” Bernardy at St Mary’s in Seaforth on June 5, 1971. They made their home in rural Lamberton, where they welcomed five children in six years. JoAnn was a natural caregiver who had helped her mom manage their large and busy household. She highly valued this family life she and Nick built together. She was an active member of Catholic Aid, CCW, and sang in the church choir. In 1995, Nick retired from farming and they bought the white house directly across the street from Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Lucan. JoAnn was an active member of the parish, acting as a song leader and working on quilts for the Missions. JoAnn enjoyed her walks down to the Post Office and around town. For a time, she took on a part-time cleaning job at the Lucan Community Center. In 2013, JoAnn and Nick moved down the road to Wabasso where JoAnn regularly attended mass at St Anne's. In 2016, they made the big move to the Twin Cities area to be closer to their children. JoAnn enjoyed watching Twins games on the TV with Nick, playing games of Scrabble around the kitchen table at her Ma’s house, patching jeans for Nick and her grandsons, creating fun and laughter for her grandkids through fun Easter egg hunts, cookie decorating, and playing at the park, helping clean at church, and reading. She liked ending a meal with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream. (Culver’s was definitely her happy place these last few years!) Regular phone calls and visits with her kids meant the world to her. JoAnn adored her family and was their biggest cheerleader. Her children still smile, picturing her at youth basketball games yelling “Take it away, take it away, take that ball away!” The enthusiasm in her voice can still be heard in her adult children’s ears, and it is just a small glimpse of how she always rallied for them. She was a proud Mom who supported her family and others. She engaged in conversations easily. It was common for her to start up conversations with strangers on outings. She was compassionate, and was a hospice volunteer. She continued to offer a helpful hand, even in recent days. Over the years, JoAnn received many compliments about her beautiful ivory skin and her natural dark brown “Rohlik” hair. We will remember those trademarks as well as her selflessness, strength, and faith. She had a special glow about her. JoAnn leaves behind her children, Maria Bernardy of Minneapolis, Theresa (Brad) Gulbranson of New London, David (Jerry Kennedy) Bernardy of Fridley, Anne (Kirt) Anderson of Coon Rapids, and Sarah (Ben) Broman of Burnsville; her grandchildren, Gavin, Lily, Dylan, Keegan, Mya, Cory, and Brandon; and great grandchildren, Kylie and Adalynn; her brothers, Mike (Annette) of Lucan, Ed (Joann) of Apache Junction, AZ, Larry (Char) of St. Louis Park, Frank of Redwood Falls, and Randy of Wabasso; her sister Carol Rohlik of Marshall, and sister in-laws Diane Rohlik of Renville, Terri Kaufenberg of Seaforth, Theresa Rohlik of Wabasso; her close friends Cherie Nelson, Tami Oswald, and many nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Nick Bernardy on July 26, 2017; her parents, and her siblings, William, Kenneth, Allen, Roger, Greg, Mary, and Louis. Blessed be her memory.