Loretta Bernhardt

Loretta M. Bernhardt (nee Pavlak), age 88, a long-time former resident of Naperville, IL and recently of Sparks, NV, passed peacefully at home on Friday, July 17, 2026 in Columbia, SC. 

She was born on June 16, 1938 in Chicago, IL, and preceded in death by her beloved son, James Bernhardt, her parents, James and Josephine Pavlak (nee Novak), her sisters Agnes Pavlak, Pauline McGrath, and Mary Sanchuk, and her brothers John, Charles, Edward, Joseph, and George Pavlak.   

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Russell J. Bernhardt, her daughter, Sharon (Paul) Casey, brothers Alois and Frank Pavlak, grandchildren Patrick and Megan Casey, and Robyn Bernhardt, mother of grandchildren Jack and Joseph Bernhardt.

Loretta grew up in the Gage Park area on the southside of Chicago.  She went to Lourdes High School before earning her B.S. degree in Secondary Education at Marywood College in Scranton, PA with undergraduate and post-graduate studies in mathematics at Villanova.  She spent years as a junior high school math and science teacher, initially at Immaculate Conception School in Whiting, IN, then subsequently at St. Adrian School in Chicago, and St Raphael School in Naperville.  She loved teaching and highly encouraged her students to participate in junior high science fair programs.  She will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Loretta’s memory to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: https://www.stjude.org

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 20, from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville and then process over to nearby St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 36 N. Ellsworth St., Naperville for an 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial.  Interment will immediately follow at St. Peter and Paul Cemetery with a reception to follow.

Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel, and Freidrich-Jones Funeral Home are assisting the family.

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