Add a Memory
Send Flowers
Make a Donation
Bernadette Shen Obituary
Publish in a newspaper
Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share memories of Bernadette in the Guest Book below.
The most recent obituary and service information is available at the Caring Cremations - Chicago website.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Gladys Brown
October 26, 2023
I was thinking about Ms Shen today, how it was a pleasure taking care of her. She was no problem, but a very sweet person
FuRong Shen
November 16, 2022
To: My classmate
Ms. Bernadette
I was devastated to hear of Bernadette's sudden passing. I've lost a good friend forever and I'm so sad.
Thinking back to my school days and youth in my mind, scenes of laughter and happiness emerged clearly one by one. We like to go shopping, eat delicious food, often visit scenic spots together, and like to take pictures. I have many photos taken by you. These happy times have become good memories.
You believe in Catholicism, thanks to the gift of God, you got rid of your illness, flew to heaven, and Rest In Peace in the arms of God!
Ms. FuRong Shen
Nov. 5, 2022
HuiJun Zheng
November 13, 2022
To my classmate Ms. Bernadette.
Bernadette passed away, her voice and face are still there, haunting my heart, the voice echoes, and it is unforgettable! The past is like a smoke and the wind goes to the vicissitudes of life without being surprised!
Bernadette, Rest In Peace in a beautiful paradise!
Ms. HuiJun Zheng
Nov. 5, 2022
LiXian Lai
November 13, 2022
To my classmate Ms. Bernadette.
In the more than ten years in the United States, Chicago and Los Angeles have talked countless times apart, recalling the interesting stories between the three girls in the city, watching and commenting on our common hobby world tennis match, the scene at this moment is clearly in my mind!
In recent years, you had suffered from illness and we have lost touch. On October 28, the sad news of Bernadette´ death came. I have lost a good friend forever. I pray that Bernadette will be free from the suffering and troubles of the world in heaven.
Bernadette, Rest In Peace!
Ms. LiXian Lai
Nov. 5, 2022
How you can show support
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Follow this page
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
Shirley Rong
November 12, 2022
Shirley Rong
November 12, 2022
Shirley Rong
November 12, 2022
Shirley Rong
November 12, 2022
Shirley Rong
November 12, 2022
Shirley Rong
November 11, 2022
Shirley Rong
November 11, 2022
Shirley Rong
November 9, 2022
From the Rong family
Mr. Guo Wei Rong:
Ms. Bernadette go all the way!
Ms. Ling Rong:
Ms. Bernadette Rest In Peace!
Mr. Tan Yi Rong:
Condolences to the family!
Oct. 29, 2022
Shirley Rong
November 7, 2022
May God bless my dear stepdaughter Ms. Bernadette D. Shen in peace!
FuRong Shen
November 7, 2022
:
:
,,,
,,,,,,,,......!
,30,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,
,,,!
~~~~~~~~~
:
!
,,,,!
,,,,
,!
~~~~~~~~~
:
!
,,,,,!!
,!
Shirley Rong
November 7, 2022
Memories
Although I know that everyone's life is limited, no matter who you are, you will die one day, but when I wrote Ms. Bernadette D. Shen´s "Obituary", tears still blurred my vision several times...
In 1962, the Rong family and the Shen family lived in a garden villa in Shanghai. The Shen family lived on the first and second floors, the Rong family lived on the third floor. We were neighbors. I have known Bernadette for 60 years.
She was beautiful in appearance, elegant in manner, soft and sweet in voice, lively and cheerful in spirit, and was most favored by her parents. She lived in a educated and harmonious family, she had a happy childhood and youth.
During the Cultural Revolution in 1967, she suddenly lost her 52-year-old mother, while her father was accidentally disabled in one eye. I remember that I attended her mother's simple farewell ceremony. There, her father just had surgery on one eye. The doctor told him not to be too sad, otherwise his one eye would not be able to restore his vision. Her father told her "Be strong, be strong", because she was the one who cried the most that day.
Since then, everything in the Shen family has been changed. Use to have 13 rooms, but only left 2 rooms for their living, they had to share bathroom with others. Life at that time was so difficult.
The Cultural Revolution ended in 1979. After that, her aunt and uncle in the United States and their daughters went to Shanghai to visit relatives, trying their best to help improve the living conditions of their relatives. Fortunately, the Shen family met the help of nobles!
Bernadette immigrated to the United States in 1985, and her two elder brothers also came to the United States one after another, they all use to live in the house of her aunt and uncle.
Bernadette moved from St. Louis to Chicago in 1987. She liked life in a big city. She chose the life as she wanted. Her apartment has large glass windows, and the beach and Lake Michigan view is so beautiful.
She was able to live independently, McDonald's is very close to her apartment, and she could walk to and from get off work. She was willing to go to work and liked this job very much. It was not easy for her to work for 26 years. In her spare time, she liked to watch tennis games at home and liked to talk to her classmates and friends on the phone. She lived happily in Chicago for 35 years.
I married to her father in 1989 to become her stepmother, during the 33 years we keep having good relationships to contact each other, maintain civilized and polite communication. To respect others is to honor oneself.
All in all, in the past 60 years, whether I was her neighbor or stepmother, we kept comfortable and polite relationship with each other. As our age grow up relationship is getting better than before. Especially within a year I made more phone calls with her. There was no answer at her home for several days. I looked up the phone number of the service desk in her apartment, and finally found the cell phone number of her best friend Greg left at the service desk.
Greg introduces himself then I know that he is Bernadette´s best friend for more than 20 years. The security guard at her building allows him to come in and out. He has the key to the room. He keeps helping Bernadette for everything before and after. He works for the Chicago Transit Authority and will retire next April.
Under the epidemic, he was taking high risks to accompany Bernadette to the hospital for medical treatment, visited her in the Hospitals and Rehabs with her food and everything she wanted.
Bernadette spent the last few weeks of her life at Greg's sister-in-law's home, who was taking good care of her. Appreciate so much!
Thank you Ms. Gladys Brown!
Thank you Mr. Gregory Black!
Respect for life and protect human dignity. I have decided to share half of my tomb to Bernadette, it is her father had prepared for me. Right now this is my love for Bernadette and give her life a perfect ending.
In near future she will be returned to her parents' arms to reunion. Left and right side the tombs are her two aunts and two uncles, also her grandfather´s tomb is nearby, so she will never be solitarily again!
Goodbye, my dear Ms. Bernadette D. Shen.
May God bless everyone!
Stepmother: Shirley Rong
Nov. 3, 2022
Gregory Black
November 4, 2022
To Bernadette The Smartest Woman I Know. To Bernadette " Little Mama " The Most Beautifulest Woman I've Have Ever Seen. May Heart's Remember , May Heart's Still Care For You Are With Me Everywhere.
Gladys L Brown
November 3, 2022
Ms. Shen,
It was a great pleasure taking care of you. I enjoyed our time together. I will always have great memories of you. You were the sweetest person I could have ever known in the short time I knew you.
Rest In Peace
Allen Shen
November 1, 2022
Quoting Daphne du Maurier, "Every moment was a precious thing, having in it the essence of finality."
Showing 1 - 18 of 18 results
223 W. Jackson Boulevard Suite 200 A, Chicago, IL 60606
Make a Donation
in Bernadette Shen's name
People and places connected with Bernadette
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
How to support Bernadette's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Bernadette Shen's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
