Page created by: Nancy Berna Lanzet

We lost Virginia Pacheco Berna (Virg) to Parkinson’s on Sunday May 24th, 2020, after having contracted COVID -19/pneumonia at her nursing home in Palos Heights Rehab in Crestwood, Illinois. She was born to Teofila Morales Pacheco and Jose Pacheco on April 14th, 1932, in Chicago’s “Back of the Yards.”

She was one of eight in a strong-knit Mexican-Catholic family, which included six brothers (Joe, Steve, Richard, Al, Paul ”Rudy,” Raymond) and one sister (Sofia “Sophie”). Her father operated a Mexican bakery and her mother was a seamstress for a clothing house that made clothes for fashion shows. Their family of 10 lived in a small apartment with only four bedrooms. For them, Mexican food was a shared language of nourishment, of care and attention, and was central to their lives. And often, it could be stretched to almost magical proportions. Memories of us grandchildren lining up for warm tortillas with butter and salt from Grandma Teofila are still fresh. Such values — family, love, faith, and food — were of great significance to her throughout her life.

She volunteered at Mary McDowell Settlement House in Chicago from a young age. The settlement house was an extensive support system for immigrants and those in need, which provided housing and access to all kinds of programs and facilities including libraries, nurseries, showers, gymnasiums, and game rooms.

She met her late husband Wally Berna while a star saleswoman in the rug department at Goldblatt’s Department Store. She worked as a bookkeeper and sales associate with her brothers at Pacheco Brothers Upholstery Shop in Chicago. She also kept the books for her husband Wally’s Texaco gas station in Burbank, Illinois. Virg and Wally were involved in various local organizations including the Chamber of Commerce and Virg was President of the Professional Business Women’s Association in Oak Lawn, Illinois, for many years. She received several awards for her contributions. She traveled to Mexico City as a bilingual specialist.

For Virg, her greatest professional achievement was becoming the Administrator of Brentwood Nursing Home in the suburbs of Chicago where she was devoted to improving the lives of all those in her care battling unfamiliar and isolating new challenges in aging, health, and residence.

Her love of tennis was unparalleled. She played in many leagues and tournaments until she was about 80 and stopped only because her knees gave her misery (the early signs of Parkinson’s painfully manifesting). She looked forward to visiting New York in the late summer and attending the Open in Flushing, Queens, with her grandchildren.

She was quite the "DIVA" always looking good with her stylish wardrobe, makeup and polished nails even in her last years.

Virg was a devoted mother, fervent Catholic and bold believer, and pioneering businesswoman, always caring and nourishing, offering up honest encouragements and fierce gestures of strength and support. She believed that the truly religious life called us to love. She cared for her mother Teofila, after suffering a stroke, for many years in her own home.

She is survived by her children Nancy Berna Lanzet & her spouse Gary Lanzet of Bonita Springs, Florida, and Walt Berna & his spouse Kim Pompillo Berna of Orland Park, Illinois. “Nana” was especially proud of all her grandchildren: Danielle “D” Lanzet of Asheville, NC, Taylor Lanzet of Los Angeles, CA, Jason Berna & his spouse Carolyn of Plainfield, IL, Terry Berna, Nikki Berna of La Vergne, TN. She was incredibly proud of her great granddaughter Paige Berna(Jason's daughter). She lost her husband Wally at 63. She was a sharp, independent, and self-sufficient woman.

In this time of COVID, a proper memorial/celebration of life was not possible. She was finally put to rest next to her husband Wally on Monday, August 16, 2021 in St. Mary's Cemetery in Evergreen Park IL.

For those wishing to honor Virg’s life, and her struggle with Parkinson’s, please donate in her tribute to the Michael J. Fox Foundation and support continued Parkinson’s research.