Notes for: Bernard ("Bernie") L. Bodine
From Ronny Bodine (Feb. 16, 2025):
Newspaper Obituary, The Hartford Courant of 28 Oct 2004.
BODINE, Anne M. (Sera) Anne M. (Sera) Bodine, of West Hartford, beloved wife for 51 years of Bernard L. Bodine, died Wednesday, (October 27, 2004) at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Hartford and was the daughter of the late Joseph and Domenica (DeFolco) Sera. Anne was a graduate of Weaver High School and a communicant of St. Patrick & St. Anthony Church, Hartford. Besides her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Mala Bodine and her fiancee, Steven Provini and two grandchildren, Colby and Ashley Bonnett all of West Hartford; two sisters, Theresa Schulz and her husband, Werner of West Hartford and Mrs. George Tobey of Wethersfield; three nephews, Robert Sera and his wife, Maryann of Fairfield, William Schulz and his wife, Barbara of Burlington and James Schulz and his wife Melanie of Glastonbury. Ann also leaves behind many dear and close friends in Connecticut and Florida. She was predeceased by three brothers, Frank, Robert and Arthur and a sister, Carmela. A very special thank you to Dr. Rathmann and the staff at St. Francis Home Care Cancer Center and St. Francis Hospice for all the care and compassion shown to Anne and her family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 30, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick & St. Anthony Church, 285 Church Street, Hartford. Everyone is asked to go directly to the church. The burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Calling hours will be Friday from 5-8 p.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Francis Hospital Oncology Unit, 114 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105. For on line expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com
Obituary, Hartford (CT) Courant of 16 Feb 2025
Bernard Bodine, 96, of West Hartford passed away peacefully on Friday, January 31, 2025. Born August 26, 1928 in Hartford, Connecticut, he was the son of the late Abraham and Celia Marcus Bodine. Bernie grew up in Hartford's Clay Hill neighborhood and never forgot his roots. For over seventy years he attended an annual meeting of the boys of the old neighborhood. He attended Weaver High School and then began a career in sales. Bernie started at Russell Pontiac on New Park Avenue in his twenties and stayed fifty-five years, ending his career as a co-owner of the Pontiac Center with his good friend Lawrence Pellettier. Bernie was known for producing an annual Christmas party for underprivileged children at the Pontiac Center. He arranged for the children to be bussed in. Each child stood in awe as Santa arrived by helicopter and they each received a Christmas present. Bernie was an avid runner, running daily for many years from the Hartford YMCA. He supported and raised funds for the YMCA, earning many awards for his efforts. In later years he was an active participant at the Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center. Bernie was predeceased by his beloved wife, Anne Sera Bodine, to whom he was married for more than fifty two years, and his sister Estelle Bodine. He leaves behind his loving daughter Mala Bodine of West Hartford, his grandchildren Colby Bonnett of Canton and Ashley Bonnett of Coventry, his great grandchildren Xavier Bonnett, Tyler Bonnett and Mason Johnson, his nieces and nephews Bill, Barbara and Melanie Schultz and his first cousins and best friends Aaron and Sandra Gersten. The family would like to thank Brookfield-Chatfield and especially Cindy Velaquez for Bernie's care during his last years. Donations in Bernie's memory would be appreciated to the Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter, 200 Executive Boulevard, Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489.