Submitted by Bill Norvell 1965 <w.norvell@att.net>
on 07/Jun/2023
184.88.213.148
Filomena "Mena" Crisci Bernatowicz passed away peacefully in
her sleep on the morning of June 5th, 2023 at the age of 89
surrounded by her loving family in her home in Montgomery,
NY. She was born on April 27th, 1934 in Newburgh to Vincenzo
and Magdalena Crisci and had one older brother named
Dominick. Mena was a kindergarten teacher for about 40 plus
years in the Berea School District and absolutely adored
every child she had in her classes and then some. She was
extremely well respected by her colleagues and parents of
the children she taught and was even very well known for
baking personalized birthday cakes for her colleagues as
well. Mena also had a very active social media presence and
was most known for her comments on her friends' Facebook
posts and often used this platform as a way to reconnect
with her former students, friends, and family. Her and her
late husband, Henry, loved traveling in their early
retirement years on lavish cruises, train trips, and fun
drives but most definitely not by plane for Filomena had an
extreme fear of flying. In the later years, you could find
Fil enjoying her hallmark shows or playing a friendly game
of scrabble with her bestest friend, Lucille. Now, if it was
Fil's world, family gatherings would happen every day as she
loved and cherished all holidays, birthdays, and special
occasions she got to spend with her family. She will be
greatly missed but most definitely not forgotten. Her sassy
attitude and family oriented values will forever live on in
her family and friends memories.
Filomena is
survived by her three children: sons Joseph Bernatowicz and
his wife Sandra Bernatowicz of Maryland, Vicent Bernatowicz
and his wife Kathie Bernatowicz of New Jersey, and daughter
Lynn Roosa of New York. She is also survived by her many
grandchildren: Sarah, Gregory, and Jessica Roosa, Chris and
Julie Mueller, Rachel, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Sarah and
husband Manasseh Nyirongo, Caleb, and Joshua Bernatowicz.
Mena is also survived by many other cousins, nieces, and
nephews. She is predeceased by her beloved Henry, whom she
shared over 60 years with, her parents, Vincenzo and
Magdalena Crisci, her brother, Dominick Crisci, her
sister-in-law Gloria Crisci, and her son-in-law Jeffery A.
Roosa.
Calling
hours will be held at Brooks Funeral Home on Saturday, June
10 from 2 - 5 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be
celebrated at St. Mary's Church, Montgomery on Monday, June
12 at 10:30 AM, followed by burial at Orange County
Veteran's Cemetery.
Published by Brooks Funeral Home on Jun. 6, 2023.
Filomena "Mena" Crisci Bernatowicz passed away peacefully in
her sleep on the morning of June 5th, 2023 at the age of 89
surrounded by her loving family in her home in Montgomery,
NY. She was born on April 27th, 1934 in Newburgh to Vincenzo
and Magdalena Crisci and had one older brother named
Dominick. Mena was a kindergarten teacher for about 40 plus
years in the Berea School District and absolutely adored
every child she had in her classes and then some. She was
extremely well respected by her colleagues and parents of
the children she taught and was even very well known for
baking personalized birthday cakes for her colleagues as
well. Mena also had a very active social media presence and
was most known for her comments on her friends' Facebook
posts and often used this platform as a way to reconnect
with her former students, friends, and family. Her and her
late husband, Henry, loved traveling in their early
retirement years on lavish cruises, train trips, and fun
drives but most definitely not by plane for Filomena had an
extreme fear of flying. In the later years, you could find
Fil enjoying her hallmark shows or playing a friendly game
of scrabble with her bestest friend, Lucille. Now, if it was
Fil's world, family gatherings would happen every day as she
loved and cherished all holidays, birthdays, and special
occasions she got to spend with her family. She will be
greatly missed but most definitely not forgotten. Her sassy
attitude and family oriented values will forever live on in
her family and friends memories.