James Charles Bernardo

Bernardo - James Charles, of Bayside, New York, on May 20, 2012 at the age of 48 years. Loving son of Angela (Schillinger) Bernardo, and James T. Bernardo. Cherished brother of Bridget Kenah, Gina Terlecki, Dawn Bernardo, Toni McGowan, Lisa Federico. Dear uncle of Thomas Terlecki; Anthony Spinella; Nicholas Federico, Brittany Kenah, Angela Federico, Kimberly Kenah, Gianna and Brianna McGowan.

Family and friends may visit Tuesday, May 22nd and Wednesday, May 23rd, 2-4 & 7-9pm. Funeral Mass to be celebrated Thursday May 24, 2012, 9:15am at Notre Dame RC Church, New Hyde Park, NY. Interment to follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park, Farmingdale, NY.

In Memory of James Charles Bernardo:

I read of a reverend who stood to speak

at the funeral of his friend.

He referred to the date

on his tombstone

from the beginning... to the end.

He noted that first came the date of his birth

and spoke of the date with tears

but he said what mattered most of all

was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time

that he spent alive on earth, and

now only those who loved him know

what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;

the cars, the house, the cash.

What matters is how we lived and loved

and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard,

Are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left

You could be at "dash mid-range"

If we could just slow down enough

to consider what's true and real,

and always try to understand

the way other people feel, and

be less quick to anger,

show appreciation more

and love the people in our life like

we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,

more often wear a smile

remembering that this special dash

might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read

with your life's actions to rehash...

would you be pleased with the things they say

about how you spent your dash?