Bernadine A. "Bernie" Gerhard, 83, from Whitehall, died peacefully Sept. 21, 2014, at home surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late Cyril J. and Anna A. (Krisch) Surovy.

She and her husband Frank C. "Jim" Gerhard were married 39 years at the time of his passing in 1994.

A dedicated member of St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church, Allentown, she was very active with many social events at the church.

She was a past president of the First Catholic Slovak Union Jednota Branch 567 KJ, the Rev. Stephen Furdek District, chairperson of auditors in Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington D.C.; a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Slovak Association and the former Whitehall Senior Citizens.

She was a table worker at the former Bru-Mar Manufacturing, Allentown, for more than 20 years before retiring in 1987.

Her survivors include a daughter Margaret P. "Peggy" Gillespie and her husband, Jerome of North Catasauqua; granddaughter Tina Keenan and her husband, Zachary, of Northampton; great-grandchildren Ava and Owen; and a niece, nephews and their families.

She was predeceased by her brother Joseph J. Surovy and his wife Lois.

Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Sept. 25 in St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church, 924 N. Front St., Allentown.

Her viewing will be 9:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday in Gilbert Funeral Home, 444 Pershing Blvd., Whitehall. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Catholic Charities, 530 Union Blvd., Allentown PA 18109.