Louise Bernardi

We will always remember Louise for her kindness and sense of humor. She was happiest when her home was filled with her family, cooking and laughing together. As a family, we are comforted in knowing that Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop are together again.

Born in Merced on November 17, 1918 to Vital and Alice Pellissier, oldest child Louise Felice lived a happy and fulfilled life. She was raised on a Dairy Farm with her sister Lottie and brothers Leon and Jean, speaking only French until she entered school. Growing up with the Favier and Eyraud cousins, she often told stories of how much fun they had playing together on the Favier Ranch. She graduated Merced High in 1936 and exhibiting her adventurous side, actually took flying lessons in the late ‘30s. She met the love of her life, Bernie, when he was working at Merced Dairy and Ice and she was working next door at Sante’s Ice Cream Parlor. After dating for 6 months he proposed and they were married in 1941 in Reno, Nevada, then subsequently, honoring the wishes of his mother, they had a church ceremony back in Merced at Our Lady of Mercy Church. Bernie joined the United States Air Force and while he was overseas, Louise opened Helen and Louise with her cousin Helen Eyraud in 1944 on 17th Street. After a year she left the business to have her first daughter, Nanette. The store still bears her name today. After Bernie returned from WWII, he opened Bernie’s Liquors and Chrissie was born. Years later, they moved to the house on Rambler Road where youngest daughter Leslie was born.

Louise loved learning to play the game of golf at Merced Golf and Country Club where she and Bernie were active members for many years. They enjoyed traveling and competing in many Golf Invitationals. Louise was the 18 Hole Lady’s Division President in 1952, and later held the title Ladies Club Champion. Bernie and Louise loved traveling with friends. Favorite trips included the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, Italy, France, a fishing trip to Canada, and a cruise to Alaska, always making new friends. Many weekends and summers were spent on their houseboat on Lake McClure, tied up and floating down the lake with the, Pellissier, Granata, and Kirby boats connected. She loved to fish and those trips were always filled with laughter and great fun. They later bought a place in Aptos with a gorgeous view of Monterey Bay, a favorite family vacation destination for over 40 years. In 1983, they moved from Rambler Lane and built a home on the Merced Golf Course with inspiring views of the 9th hole and the Sierras. They were so happy spending their later years looking out over the Golf Course, sharing a cocktail, and watching the golfers.

Louise always put everyone else ahead of herself, being a devoted daughter, wife, mother and grandmother. In addition to her three daughters, “Mom-Mom” has a grandson Rob Massey, wife Mary, and recently, highly anticipated great-granddaughter, Charley and granddaughters Ashley Rahilly, Gianna and Annalise Phillips. A perfect day for Louise would be cooking breakfast for her family, playing a round of golf, enjoying a game of Gin Rummy and coming home to cook a fabulous dinner, with a piece of See’s Candy for dessert! Louise had an extremely creative side ranging from inventive Halloween costumes to home architecture. She devoted herself to her family, as they were always her top priority. Bernie was a well-known caterer in town, but it was Louise who was the real cook! Her salad dressing is world-renown.

In her last years, she was so lucky to have wonderful care givers. We are forever grateful to Kathy Blevins, Glen Staley, Angela Pena, and Dina Machado.

Louise is preceded in death by her husband Bernie; sister Lottie Cochran, brother-in-law Ed; brother Leon Pellissier, sister-in-law June; bother Jean, sister-in-law Juelle; son-in-law Michael Rahilly; and son-in-law Bobby Massey. She is survived by daughters Nanette Rahilly of Merced; Chris Talley and husband Ken of Madera; Leslie Phillips and husband Kimble of Fresno; grandson Rob Massey, wife Mary, and greatgrandaughter Charlotte Christine Massey; granddaughters Ashley Rahilly, Gianna and Annalise Phillips.

Services will be performed at our Lady of Mercy Church, 459 West 21st Street on Saturday, October 16th at 11:00 a.m. Donations in Louise’s name can be made to the National Stroke Association at 9707 E. Easter Lane, Centennial, CO 80112, www.stroke.org/site, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.