November 20 2019
Bernadette Mary Okely November 20, 2019 Bernadette suffered from Alzheimer’s and finally succumbed to this terrible affliction on Wednesday November 20, 2019. She is survived by Jeffrey, her husband of 34 years, her son Michael Robert Okely, her sisters Joan and Patricia and her brother Robert. Bernadette was born in Cloncurry, Queensland Australia to Norine and Robert Mullins. She attended Lourdes Hill Girls School in Brisbane, Australia. She worked for TAA/Australian Airlines and rose to become the Flight Attendant Supervisor for the state of Queensland. She gladly gave up her career to become a fulltime mother to ensure that her darling son, Michael, was nurtured and loved to the best of her abilities. A role that she completely excelled at and the result is her loving son. She is loved by her entire family, all of her friends and all who met her. She supported, guided and helped many of those in need and she was the sweetest person that you could ever hope to meet. Her passing has left a hole in the hearts of those left in this world but has added another angel in heaven. Bernadette was lovingly cared for, in her home, for 3 years by a small but dedicated team of caregivers and her family. The family would like to express their eternal gratitude to her loving caregivers, Donna Iamiceli and Christine Pavel, who cared for her every need for 3 years. For the last few days of her life she was lovingly cared for by the fantastic doctors, nurses and staff of Lower Cape Fear Hospice. Memorial Service Bernadette’s life will be celebrated through a Mass at St. Mark Catholic Church on Monday December 2nd, 2019 at 10:30am. After Mass she will be remembered and eulogized at the family house. Bernadette was devoted to her mother and it is Bernadette’s wish that she be interred with her parents in Australia. Her husband and son will honor that wish but will have a small internment ceremony on Tuesday December 3rd at dawn on Wrightsville. Guest Book A guest book will be present at St Mark Catholic Church which the family would like guests to sign as a life long keepsake. The Guest Book will be taken to Australia for the services to be held there. Lasting Memory. Bernadette’s final two days were under the care of Lower Cape Fear Hospice (which is an incredible facility funded through donations) and the family has decided to have a plaque honoring Bernadette added to the “Continuous Wall” at the Hospice Center. It is the families wish that in lieu of flowers a donation in Bernadette’s name be given to either the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org/) or Lower Cape Fear Hospice (1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401).
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Bernadette Mary Okely November 20 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Wilmington, state: North Carolina