Elena Aurea Bernal's Obituary
Elena Aurea Bernal, passed away with her children at her side on Wednesday July 6th, 2022. Elena was an optimistic and fervent believer in love and prioritizing her children and family above all. She was born in Havana, Cuba on August 24, 1937 to Spanish immigrants, Catalina and Antonio Petisco. Elena married her childhood sweetheart Alfredo Miguel Bernal, who preceded her in death and whom she anxiously awaited reuniting with every day. They met as young teenagers in school, where they even shared a desk together. They graduated high school together in 1955, proceeded to work together at the same bank, and then married in 1959, before embarking on the journey together that changed their families’ trajectory forever.
“If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere” became a personal song and reality as they fled Cuba to New York City, where their hard work and unified approach to solving problems led them to success. Elena forged a multigenerational home in New York, where their parents and children were always together until opportunity knocked and drew them to Miami. She loved office work, including meticulous recordkeeping and curated office supplies, cultivated after years working as a banker. She brought those skills home when she decided to dedicate herself to motherhood, which she eagerly anticipated after many years of trying. Elena was a loving mother to Elena Marlene Bernal and Melissa Catherina Bernal-Vega and a mother-in-love to Ernesto Vega. She cherished her grandchildren, Michael Anthony and Matthew Christopher, both inspiring awe and pride in her. She is now able to spend time with her son Alfredito Bernal, who preceded her in death shortly after his birth and she kept close always.
Elena always loved animals, from her childhood pets Duque, Reinita and Chatica, to her adult family dogs Chappi, Munchin, and Sebastian, and her “grandcat” Sombra. Most recently, Elena resided in Lauderdale by the Sea with her cats, Rusty, Mittens and grandcat Sol. When you stopped by, you could always count on her to catch you up on the latest novela or to watch a movie with a happy ending with her. Elena loved visits from her granddogs, Reeses, Misty, Lucy and Reba.
But no matter what you did with Elena or how she touched your life, you knew how much she loved you. She would give more than what she had to make sure you were flourishing. Elena wanted everyone to have the opportunities and blessings she believed God had given to her and her family.
She finished every interaction with a reminder— “God bless you”—and God most certainly blessed all who had a chance to know Elena.
Funeral/viewing at Memorial Plan Westchester Funeral Home on Friday, July 15th from 6-11 pm and Saturday, July 16th from 9-10:30 am, followed by burial at Miami Memorial Park Cemetery at 11 am.
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