Bernie (Takacs) Bernat

Bernie Bernat of Keld, Manitoba passed away on Monday, January 13, 2020 at the age of 69 years.

Bernadette (Bernie) Bernat (Takacs) was born on August 26, 1950 to parents Stephen and Theresa Takacs in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. She was the oldest of three children. She loved her siblings Ray and Nadine, and their families, dearly. Bernie went to Nursing School in Saskatoon in 1968 and started working as a Registered Nurse in Dauphin, Manitoba in 1971. Here she met Ernie Bernat, and the couple had many great adventures alongside young couples living in Dauphin and Keld. On April 19, 1972 Ernie and Bernie were married and moved to Keld where they built a home and a life that they lived fully until Bernie’s sudden passing. Bernie and Ernie started their family with the arrival of Shauna in 1973 and Trevor in 1976. Bernie worked as a full-time Mom, a full-time homemaker and full-time hired hand on the farm throughout her life. She loved looking after all her animals- cattle, horses, dogs, cats, turkeys, guineas, and chickens. She was Ernie’s “right hand man” on the farm and held down the fort while Ernie was away working on the railroad. She enrolled in the nursing refresher course and back to part-time nursing in 1987. Bernie and Ernie were often host to many community gatherings, both on and off the farm. Bernie’s distinctive laugh could often be heard above the hum of every party. 
Bernie’s greatest joy were her grandchildren- Sam, Madilyne, Zoe, Holly, and Reena. Baba enjoyed teaching her grandkids about life on the farm, about cooking and baking her/their favorite dishes, and about how showing kindness toward others trumps everything in life. She enjoyed every moment with her kids and grandkids, her friends, and extended family. 
Bernie enjoyed being in nature, tea-drinking visits with friends, trail rides, gardening, cooking, and travelling. She and Ernie experienced many memorable trips with good friends and family to Hawaii, Florida, Arizona, Cuba, Jamaica, and Mexico. (She loved the sun!) She recently rekindled her love of horseback riding and really enjoyed riding with Ernie and friends. She truly loved living in Keld and close to the RMNP, where wildlife and beautiful fall leaves brought her much joy. 
She will be greatly missed by many.She will be in her own Paradise Valley forever.

A Memorial Service was held for Bernie on Friday, January 17, 2020 at 11:30 am from the Sneath-Strilchuk Family Care Centre in Dauphin with Very Rev Father Oleg Bodnarski officiating.  

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Bernie may be made to Diabetes Canada or Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba. 

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