Bernadette Kathryn Ryan Lonergan was born on Tuesday, June 30, 1959 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Lawrence and Mary Ryan. She passed away on Monday, Nov. 26, 2018 at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania losing a long batter with breast cancer.
Bernadette was a graduate of Rahway High School, Rahway New Jersey in 1977. She was a member of the Roosevelt Elementary School Band, the Roosevelt High School Marching Band, a Majorette, the Drama Club, Spanish Club and Rho Eta Sigma. She studied at Liberty University, Regent University, Rutgers University (New Brunswick) and Hillsdale College. She was a Paralegal for several law firms and earned a Doctorate in Theology and was an ordained minister. She served as a Sunday School Teacher at Calvary United Methodist Church in Milford, Delaware. She also served as Communicant of St. Marks Church in Rahway, New Jersey. Bernadette was a member of the Rahway Police Explorers for two years and a member of the Women of the Moose from 1997 to the present time.
Bernadette's hobbies were knitting, crocheting and jewelry crafting.
She leaves to mourn her loss of husband of 20 years, John J. Lonergan; one daughter, Meghan Colgan; her parents, Lawrence and Mary Ryan; one brother, Patrick Ryan and his wife Jeannine; step daughters, Tammie Deputy and Dawn Lonergan; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
The Celebration of Life service will be held at the Milford Moose Lodge 2316 on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019 at 1 p.m., 20142 (Road 209) Milford, DE 19963.
In lieu of flowers please make charitable donations to Bernadette's favorite charity, Assateague Ponies at https://assateagueislandalliance.org/foster-wild-horses.
To offer words of comfort or sign the guest book visit www.benniesmithfuneralhome.com. Professional services entrusted to Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Milford.