Obituary of Bernadette Anne Cahalane

Bernadette Ann Cahalane (nee Reddy) Bernadette passed away with calm and grace surrounded by her family on the evening of Monday, January 3, 2022. She died after a courageous battle with illness and circumstance at the age of 75. Bernadette or Bun as she was known since her early childhood, was predecease by her husband of over 47 years, Daniel F. Cahalane, Jr. and sadly by her eldest child, Brian Andrew Cahalane, Esq. who died just two months ago. Bernadette is survived by her four children, Daniel F. Cahalane III, John J. Cahalane (Sarah), Bernadette Cahalane Fochetta (Anthony) and Michele Cahalane Crawford (Donald). She leaves her precious grandchildren, Erin, Avery and Jack Cahalane and her step-grandchildren, Teresa and AJ Fochetta. Together they brought more joy to her life than could be imagined. Bun was loved and will be missed by her four siblings, Marie, Kathleen (Stephen) Walsh, Monica Wood (Jerry) and John Reddy (Christa) and countless nieces, nephews and cousins. Born in Brooklyn, New York on August 1, 1946, Bun was the second child of John J. Reddy and Teresa F. Reddy nee Fina. Although she lived in Brooklyn only a short time, she would proudly proclaim Brooklyn, Pee Wee Reese and Dem Bums as her own for life. Bun grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens and attended St John of Arc School. As a child she excelled in swimming, ice skating and bossing around her defenseless younger siblings or, depending on the circumstances, defending them to the death. She attended The Mary Louis Academy and upon graduation informed her parents that college was out of the question. She wanted to go to work and put into motion her life’s plan. Bun graduated from The Claremont Secretarial School and began her career as an executive secretary for General Telephone and Electronics. While raising her family, in 1990 Bun took a part time position at St. Dominic’s RC Parish in 1990. Although the initial position was to organize the computer, she would, over 30 years, manage information technology and the finances of the Parish and Schools. Upon her retirement in 2020 the Pastor said “it is no exaggeration to say that her decades of unsung labor helped the parish and schools so that literally thousand owe her a debt of gratitude.” In 1967 Bun met Danny Cahalane. Whether he knew it or not, she was certain that he was the one. She gave Danny her ring size and the exact specification for her engagement ring, along with the telephone number of her uncle, Michael C. Fina. It is believed that she copied her uncle to avoid mistakes. In June of 1968 Bun and Danny were married and soon welcomed their child Brian, followed by Daniel and John after which they purchased their present home in Dix Hills. Soon they welcome daughters, Bernadette and Michele. Bun was an active and supportive parent often volunteering for activities and acting as a CCD teacher for her Parish. While their life was blessed, it was not without challenges. Danny suffered from heart disease and cheated death in 1981. Bun used these trails to teach her children lessons of courage, perseverance and most of all, love of family. On her list of the most important things in life, the first ten were family. Throughout the pandemic that has plagued our country these last two years. Bun’s lessons of love for family and how they responded to her needs demonstrated the strength of the lessons she imparted. Bun’s perseverance over these last two months of her life, after the sudden loss of her eldest child, whom she saw as the head of her family, and the painful deterioration of her body by unrelenting disease, stands out as a final lesson of a life lived so well. In the last few days of her life, when family came to see her there were, of course, expressions of sadness, especially over the loss of Brian, but no complaints about pain, bitterness or the difficulties of life. Just expression of love and joy, especially about her wonderful grandchildren and acknowledgment of how proud she was of her family. In the end, it must be said that she ran the race, she held her course and she remained faithful to her beliefs. It is with great sadness that the family has decide for the protection other that the service will be limited to immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Elijah Farm www.elijahfarm.org