Bernadette Neylon

1929 - 2025

BERNADETTE NEYLON
Born: March 8, 1929 in CHICAGO, IL
Died: August 8, 2025 in DEKALB, IL
Bernadette (Bernie) Neylon, 96, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away Friday, August 8, 2025, at Aperion Care DeKalb.
She was born on the Southeast side of Chicago in 1929, Bernadette Jane Hines Neylon (Bernie). She was raised by her beloved mother, Jennie Hines, after her father Bill's death in 1934. Bernie was an only child and spent her summers growing up on her grandfather's dairy farm in central Ohio, while being cared for by her aunts and uncles. She talked about "the farm" frequently and she and her family continued to visit "out home" throughout her lifetime.
In 1938, she and her mother were one of the first residents of the Trumbull Park Homes in South Deering - the last of three Public Works Administration projects commissioned in Chicago as part of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. Bernie had many happy memories of "the project".
She attended St. Kevin Catholic Church and Grade School in Irondale and graduated from Fenger High School in 1947. During her grade school years, she was part of the Civil Air Patrol where she learned to spot enemy aircraft in case of invasion during WWII. Her devout patriotism to this country continued throughout her lifetime. She attended the University of Illinois, Navy Pier branch, after WWII, and always denied it was because of the large ratio of men to women after the war.
In 1952, Bernie married Joseph (Joe) Neylon from the Southwest side of Chicago whom she met on a blind date. They were wed at St. Kevin Church and were married for 59.5 years before Joe's death in 2011.
Bernie and Joe raised five children: Karen (Patrick), Bill (Jean), Steve (Cec), Linda (Tom) and Mike (Angie). She has six grandchildren: Joel and Jason (Steve and Cec), Jennie and Eric (Mike and Angie) and Devyn and Olivia (Tom and Linda).
In 1974, the family moved from Clarendon Hills to DeKalb, IL when Joe started a new job with Ad/Creation, a division of DeKalb Ag Research. They both made life-long friends at "the Ag" and truly enjoyed Joe's time at the company.
Bernie was an avid recycler and years ahead of the city-provided blue bins. She always looked for ways for her family to conserve, recycle and repurpose which was part of her daily routine.
A volunteer at DeKalb County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Bernie was a member of the Auxiliary for 30+ years and managed the books at the "Little Peddler" gift shop during much of that time. She and Joe delivered Meal on Wheels and she worked part-time at State Farm Insurance in DeKalb and the Junction Book Room.
She was a long-time member of St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb and a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Her love of God, her faith and the Church were a constant source of comfort to her and a witness to others.
Though she had many interests, Bernie's main focus and interest was supporting her husband in his career and raising her five children. She always said that her children were her "greatest accomplishment". She was a devoted wife and mother and raised her children by the Golden Rule.
Bernie passed at Aperion Care DeKalb / Pine Acres where she lived since November of 2023. She made many close friends with the residents and staff and the family would like to thank the staff for their care and friendship to mom. The family would also like to thank Tara and her team at Compassus for their loving care, especially in Bernie's final days.
Bernie's last words of advice that she wanted to pass on are "remember to buckle your seat belt"!
The Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 16, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 321 Pine Street, DeKalb, with Fr. Dean Russell officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in DeKalb.
Visitation will be from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a time of remembrance at 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 15, 2025, at Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Neylon Family in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. 4th Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.