Phyllis Iona Bernard

Phyllis Iona Bernard was born on 1st June 1920 in Aberdeen in the parish of St Elizabeth, Jamaica. She was the eighth of nine children born to Florence and Edward Peart.

She reports having a happy childhood and grew up to work in the local post office in her district as a teen. It was around this time she accepted Jesus as her savior and became active in the church. She travelled with two of her brothers who had become ministers while she was the choir mistress teaching music and directing various choirs. It was at one of these churches where she met the love of her life, Arthur Calvin Bernard. After their marriage in 1951, she continued to work as a postmistress in his district and while expecting their first child, her husband left for England when job opportunities opened up to the Commonwealth as more workers were needed after the war ended. After giving birth to her first-born, Joy, they joined Calvin ten months later and they had three more children, Angela who sadly died in childbirth, Ray and Glenn.

Both Phyllis and Calvin worked in various factory jobs before Phyllis decided to study to become a nurse and finished first in her class. It was this vocation which expedited the process for them to immigrate to the US arriving in Arizona in 1969 and then eventually settling in California where she continued working as a psychiatric nurse until her retirement. The couple relocated to Florida where they made many friendships who remained in touch after they moved to Arizona to live with their daughter and son-in-law in their later years.

Phyllis loved the Lord, loved people and was very aware of those in need, always diligently providing help whenever she could. She was kind and loving but also straightforward and direct. She and Calvin had a mutual love of music and gardening and were married for 68 years.

She is preceded in death by her husband Calvin and daughter Angela as well as her eight siblings. She leaves behind three children, Joy, Ray, and Glenn, six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Phyllis is at rest in the loving presence of of Jesus and hearing him say, ‘well done thou good and faithful servant’.

A Visitation for Phyllis will be held Friday, December 27, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery, 401 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257. A Memorial Service will occur Friday, December 27, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, 401 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257. A Graveside Service will occur Friday, December 27, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM, 401 Hayden Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257.