Bernadine (Maher) Kerr

Bernadine Ellen (Maher) Kerr, 92, passed away at her home on July 8, 2012. She was born on November 23, 1919 in Mt. Union, Iowa. She was pre-deceased by her parents,Thomas Martin Maher of Paulstown,Ireland and Mary Agnes (Teberg) Maher of Keithsburg, Illinois. Bernadine was married to Dean Kerr on April 17, 1940 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; they celebrated 64 years of marriage before Dean‘s death in 2003. They raised six children. Bernadine worked for J.C. Penny Company from 1953 to 1968; she then worked as bookkeeper of Mt. Pleasant Tool Works until 1985 after which she retired. Bernadine and Dean bought a house in Sun City, Arizona in 1983, which they moved to full-time in 1985. Bernadine was the matriarch and spiritual leader of her family. She was a Eucharistic minister, acted as a lector and delivered the Eucharist to the sick for her church. She is survived by six children Nancy (John) Sullivan Levy, Sharon (Denny) Allen, Michael (Brenda) Kerr, Pat (Lynn) Kerr, Don (Sandy) Kerr and Kathleen Garrison; 26 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Of her nine brothers and sisters she has two living sisters: Sister Mary Claire Maher and Pauline Maher. She was proceeded in heaven by her sister, Cecilia Vandersnick and her brothers Martin Maher, Ed Maher, Bishop Leo T. Maher, Fr. Raymond Maher and Leonard Maher. Visitation is being held on Thursday, July 12 from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Menke Funeral & Cremation Center, 12420 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City, AZ. The funeral mass will be held on Thursday, July 12 at 2 p.m. at St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church, 15800 Del Webb Blvd., Sun City, AZ. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Hope & Care Foundation, 4225 W. Glendale Ave. Ste. A-200, Phoenix, AZ, 85051 or the Alzheimer’s Association - Desert Southwest Chapter, 1028 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006-2622.