Bernadine Mae Hughes

EAU CLAIRE - Bernadine Mae Hughes, 90, a resident of the Chippewa Manor, Chippewa Falls, died Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire.

She was born Jan. 26, 1921, in Chippewa Falls. She and her twin sister, Bernadette Mary (Loiselle) were born to James Hugh and Louise (Beaudette) McElroy.

She attended Notre Dame Grade School and graduated from McDonell High School in 1938. After graduation, she went to work in the office of Mason Shoe Factory in Chippewa Falls. Bernadine worked there until she married Willard (Bud) Hughes at the Notre Dame Rectory in Chippewa Falls on Oct. 21, 1943, while he was on leave from the Air Force. She remained in Chippewa Falls with her parents while Bud returned to his service and she worked as a volunteer during the war. Later she joined her husband stationed in Ohio until he was released from the Air Force.

They returned to live in Chippewa Falls and as their family grew they built a house on Lake Wissota, moving there in 1953. In 1970, Bernadine and Bud built and ran a restaurant in the Wissota Village called The Village Chef. Bernadine made her famous homemade potato salad, baked beans, BBQ and pies for the restaurant while continuing to care for her family of 11 children.

They sold the restaurant in 1977 and Bernadine worked at Romeis Apartments serving the noon meal for the Senior Nutrition Program. She and Bud retired in 1986 and built a home near Lake Wissota.

Bernadine enjoyed traveling to visit her children, family and friends. She was a wonderful seamstress as well as an accomplished cook and spent much time knitting and crocheting. She was an avid Bridge player for 60 years. Bernadine will be remembered as a loving wife to Bud and a mother and grandmother extraordinaire. She put her family before herself.

Bernadine is survived by: seven daughters and four sons, Patricia (Darrell) Passo of Marshfield and their children, Michael, Kelly and Adam; Bill (Nancy) Hughes of The Colony, Texas and their children, Erin, Stephanie and Nicholas; Barbara Tsopanoglou of Kent, Wash., and her children, Loukas and Sara; Cathy (Jim) Kingrea of Eagle River, Alaska and their children, Ryan, Evan and Dylan; Beverly (David) Zimmerman of Eau Claire and their children, Alice, John Clayton and Courtney; Betty (Allan) Jacobson of Chippewa Falls and Betty's son, Emery; Bernadette Weider of Crystal Lake, Ill. and her children, Chad, Derek and Danielle; Bob (Jessica) Hughes of Chippewa Falls and their children, Sam and Madeline; Becky (Ken) Steinmetz of Chippewa Falls and their children, Dana and Lora; Brian (Karma) Hughes of Minneapolis, Minn., and their children, Carter and Spencer; Bradley (Sarah) Hughes of Fitchburg and their children, Nate, Caroline and Benjamin; one brother, James P. McElroy of Enumclaw, Wash.; 14 great- grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by: her husband Willard "Bud" on July 26, 2010; one son Bruce in infancy; two sons-in-law, Bill Tsopanoglou and John Weider; her parents; and her twin sister, Bernadette Loiselle.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 30 at Notre Dame Church, Chippewa Falls. Rev. Brian J. Jazdzewski will be celebrant of the funeral Mass. Interment will be in Hope Cemetery, Chippewa Falls.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 29, and until 10 a.m. Saturday at the Horan Funeral Home, Chippewa Falls. There will be a Christian Vigil Service at 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Notre Dame Parish.

Family and friends may express online condolences at www.horanfuneralhome.com.