Linda Gayle Cohn Bernat, beloved wife of Larry Bernat for 61 years, dear big sister of Gary Cohn and Constance “Connie” Miller, sister-in-law of Harriet Jacobson (Ronald), and daughter of the late Bill and Pearle Cohn, passed away on July 24.
Linda was the mother and mother-in-law of Andrea Puritz (Michael), Bryan Bernat (Laura) and Robin Brody; and grandmother of Jenna and Alexis Puritz, Eliana and Benjamin Bernat, Morgan, Jack and Ansley Brody.
Linda loved to dance, to bake, to play cards and loved being with her grandchildren. Her younger brother, Gary, shares these memories:
I remember my Mother making some of our matching outfits, Linda’s dresses and my shorts.
I remember the beginning of my first day of kindergarten: Linda and I walking to William Rockhill Nelson School, crossing busy Troost Avenue and Rockhill Road.
I remember being on the playground when Linda fell off the jungle gym bars, cutting her chin and needing stitches, and holding her hand until the principal came.
Linda led the way when we transferred to Hale H. Cook School and always watched out for me.
At Southwest High School, Linda received bids from the three Jewish sororities and made lifelong friends with all the girls. I still believe it was due to her that I received bids from all three Jewish fraternities.
I was known as Linda’s little brother–she was the one that made sure I learned the Jitterbug and how to dance “real slow.”
Linda went to Oklahoma University with some of her good friends only to make additional ones she would end up keeping her entire life. Oklahoma was where she came across Larry, who would become her mensch of a husband.
The two of them moved to St. Louis and Linda continued making friends and started her family with Andrea, Bryan and Robin.
When Auntie Leah would call, Linda would always tell her that she considered herself “so blessed” for having Larry and the kids in her life.
I think we all start out being very close with our siblings, but as the years go by, priorities change and distances put us further apart from each other. But as I sit here now, with tears from the pain of losing Linda, I feel as close to her as when we walked to school, hand in hand all those many years ago.
Memorial contributions preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter, 9370 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132, or the charity of your choice.
