Kay (Kathryn Ann) Bernardi was born December 29, 1928, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Constantine (Gus) and Antoinette/Toni (nee Kita) Anast. She passed away peacefully Friday, August 9, 2024, in Dubuque, Iowa.

Beloved wife of 62 years to Joseph Caesar Bernardi, who passed away in 2011. Loving and cherished mother of Diane (Anne Sheffield) Bernardi of Park Ridge, IL; Donna Bernardi Jacox of Chapel Hill, NC; and Joseph Constantine (Suzanne) Bernardi of Hazel Green, WI. Treasured grandmother to Laura (Ilan Moyer) Jacox, Nina (Dave Wielinski) Bernardi, and Giana (Eric Katz) Bernardi. Loving great-grandmother to Alena (Jacox) Moyer and step-grandmother to Jennifer and Shawn Courtney.

Kay loved education. While working toward her education degrees, she ended up being at the same college and in the same class as Diane, her daughter. While teaching, Kay briefly taught at the same school that her son, Joe, was attending. He and his friends cannot say enough about her concern for her students and the effectiveness of her instruction. During summers off, Kay shared her knowledge of plants with both daughter Donna and grand-daughter Laura, passing that love for gardening to future generations. Her passion for the arts brought Kay and her grandchildren to many museums, lectures, hands-on classes, and performances.

Kay enjoyed a wide range of activities. She loved to travel. She enjoyed the fine arts. She loved being outdoors, whether gardening or at gardens. She participated in yoga classes well into her 90’s. She enjoyed playing tennis with family and friends, and ran many races, including the first Chicago Marathon, with her daughters Diane and Donna. She was an incredibly productive, bright and always active person.

Beside her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and a son-in-law, Larry Jacox.

A celebration of life for Kay will be held in the Chicago area later.

In lieu of flowers,you can donate memorials to:
Hospice of Dubuque https://hospiceofdubuque.org/donation
Stonehill Communities https://www.stonehilldbq.com/donate/
Mount Carmel Bluffs https://preshomes.org/give/#give-once
Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

Visit Kay’s obituary at www.hskfhcares.com to view a photo tribute and to send condolences to the family.