Bernadette Mendoza Viray's Obituary
Bernadette Mendoza Viray, known as Bernadette to his family and friends, passed away peacefully into God’s welcoming arms, at the age of 68, with family by her side on March 7, 2018 at 8:28 PM in Hackensack, New Jersey. She is survived by her Mom, devoted children, Cherrie and Reshelle, her sons-in-law, Alexander and Paul, sisters, Bella, Bot, Pen, Marlin, brother, Alex, grandchildren, Matthew, Martin, Miguel, Ethan and Enzo and is preceded by her father and beloved husband, Rudy.
Bernadette was born on December 5, 1949 in Manila, Philippines. As a young widow, she started and built her life engaging in business of buying and selling homes and jewelries. With hard work and determination, she was able to provide a wonderful life for her children. She sent Cherrie and Reshelle to college in one of the best and prestigious universities in the Philippines, De La Salle University. Cherrie graduated as a nurse and Reshelle, a physical therapist. She later migrated to the United States to help raise her grandchildren, Ethan and Enzo. Bernadette was loved for her being easy to get along with personality, known for her willingness and drive to do everything, admired for her many talents and was a highly respected member of the Christian community. In the end, she had shown tremendous courage, strength, perseverance, resilience and the ability to accept everything that came her way. Her love for our Lord and Saviour was endless.
Family, friends and acquaintances, whose lives Bernadette touched, are welcome to attend a viewing at Hennessey Heights Funeral Home Chapel located at 232 Kipp Avenue, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey 07604 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM on Saturday, March 10, 2018. Her body will be shipped to the Philippines for a 3-day final viewing to be held at the La Funeraria Paz in Metro Manila, Philippines.
It is with deep regret and sadness that we mourn the passing of a beautiful and amazing human being, my beloved sister in Christ, Sister Bernadette. I must admit that I wasn’t ready to give her to our Lord. I was hoping and praying for a miracle and there is still pain in my heart. But I guess, I just have to learn to accept the fact that she won’t be around anymore. We fervently prayed for her and clung to hope that she would fully recover, but God is an All Knowing God, who knows what is best for her. He did not want her to suffer anymore. She will be missed by everybody who truly loves her, but please find comfort in knowing that she is now with her Creator in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father, fully healed, no more pain and suffering, but rather experiencing everlasting peace and joy.
The first time I met Sis. Bernadette, we immediately clicked and got along very well because we’re both Christians, we’re both fully devoted followers of Christ and have knowledge of the scriptures. She was a widow at an early age. Her beloved husband died of heart attack in his mid-forties. As a young single mother, that didn’t stop her from putting her daughters to school to finish college. She was such a firm believer in the value of education. That was her greatest accomplishment and pride, to be able to see eldest daughter, Cherrie, be a nurse and Reshelle, a physical therapist. We are reminded of the tremendous love she had for her children, grandchildren, her mom, whom she talked about more often, who just turned 100 years old, her siblings, all her loved ones, including her friends, which she had a lot in the Philippines and most importantly her love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Not only was she a devoted mother, she was a great grandma to Matthew, Miguel and Martin, who she helped raise and become the best they can be, including Ethan and Enzo. She also treated AJ and Alexa as if they were her own. She talked lovingly about all her grandchildren. She would tell me about how Enzo would affectionately take care of her in and out of the house. We would see Enzo hold and guide her every time she was out. Enzo would ask her if she wanted the TV turned on and Enzo would keep her company and they would watch the Filipino channel together. Likewise, he was proud of Ethan of his skills in cooking. She would tell me all the delicious dishes he had tried and tested. I would hear endless stories about Matthew, who I think was her favorite, Miguel, the good looking one and she would tell me which girlfriend she would and not approve of, and of course, Martin, the responsible one. He also told me about AJ, how she would always cook Beef Steak because AJ liked it so much. She marveled at how Alexa had grown and how lucky Alex is for having a daughter, who graduated Valedictorian. She was a religious person, making God her No. 1 priority. She was also hardworking. She multi-tasked and knew how to do so much and kept herself occupied all the time. She would do the laundry, cook, feed the kids, clean the house and even do gardening. Every now and then, just to unwind and have a change of scenery, she would go back to the Philippines. She grew very close to the members of God’s Flock Christian Ministry, and considered them her extended family because she said she felt welcomed and loved there. The last time she went to the Philippines, she told me to make sure Reshelle and family attend church there. I said I would try. During the last few months, she had lived in constant uncertainty, but I remember how courageous and strong she had been, with never a word of complaint. We recalled how bleak the doctor’s prognosis was and yet she reflected on the marvelous journey she had taken since then, accepting every surgery she was scheduled to have, defying the doctor’s pronouncements and beating the odds, with God’s grace. Sister, that to me says a lot about your character. You had demonstrated and shown tremendous courage, strength, perseverance and resilience. It was a very impressive testament as to who you were, how your character was molded by hope, prayers, unwavering faith and trust in God that helped you tremendously to face life because you were bringing back all glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our sufferings and sorrows can become special times in which we become more aware of our need for God. It is in the hard and difficult times that we often experience God’s grace, God’s love, God’s mercy. May I remind everyone that you never need to bear your own cross alone. “Come to me all of you, who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” That’s what our Lord says in Matthew 11:28.
Sis. Bernadette, I am profoundly sad at your passing and I will certainly miss you. You had been kind to me. I will miss all the wonderful moments we had shared, the long conversations we had. You will always remain special and I will always remember you with love. Occasions won’t be the same without you. But your beautiful memories will sustain and comfort everyone just as I’m comforted knowing how lucky and blessed I had been to have known such a lovely person, who I valued, cherished and loved so much. But as all good things in life, some things do come to an end and we are left to deal with the worst part, the grieving part. And that’s okay, Sister.
My tribute will not be complete if I don’t talk about her daughter, Reshelle. She was always there for her Mom as far as her medical needs were concerned, dropping work commitments and making sure that all her needs were met. She took good care of her like a loving, devoted daughter would. Cherrie and Reshelle, your mother had been blessed with the most supportive family, the most devoted friends the most precious gifts and talents. She had come to know God in a much personal and most comforting way. She had grown much closer to all of us in a way that has given her a richer appreciation of the family she was a part of. She had garnered so much support and encouragement from a number of friends she had made, both near and far, that it humbles her to be the recipient of so much love and caring. No matter what happens in life, please know that you will never be alone, never without us, who truly care about you and love you, never without God’s presence, never without God’s love. We will be there for you and you will all continue to be in our thoughts prayers.
To all those who prayed, sent flowers, texts and emails, and to all those who are gathered here tonight to pay their last respect to a woman full of character and life, but left this world too soon, thank you all so much. She lived an amazing life even though it was short. She was 68 years old. She’s deeply grateful to all of you for the love, support, encouragement and prayers you have bestowed on her. The concern, love and affection you all had given her are priceless I would like to thank all of you on her behalf and to lift all of you in prayer that God may reward you in a manner that only He knows best to do. She told me that she would hold a thanksgiving party and cook for all of you as her way of saying how she appreciated all your love, support, concerns and prayers. And I told her I would help. My family and I will forever be grateful to have known her in this life. We love her very much.
What’s your fondest memory of Bernadette?
What’s a lesson you learned from Bernadette?
Share a story where Bernadette's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Bernadette you’ll never forget.
How did Bernadette make you smile?