Bernadette McCallister

Bernadette McCallister

January 16, 1937 – February 15, 2025

Bernie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William (Bill) McCallister. She is survived by her children: Kathleen McCallister (Michael McGee), Maureen Kinchen (Carl), William (Bill) McCallister Jr.; granddaughter, Kelsey McGee (Blake Johns); many dearly loved nieces and nephews also survive Bernie.

Bernie was the third child born January 16,1937, to John “Jack” Feder and Kathryn Tenczar Feder.  Bernie’s birth followed, older sisters Mary, and Betty and a few years after Bernie was born little brother John came along and completed the Feder family.

Bernie met and married Bill McCallister in 1959, followed by a growing family of three children, Kathleen, Maureen, and Bill Jr.

                                                                                      Memories

Kathleen’s earliest memories include her mother having provided a foundation for life by helping her to learn so many things:  kindness, generosity, faithfulness, keeping your word even when it hurts, love for God in daily life, not simply in the abstract or just on Sundays, serving others to the best of your ability and embracing strangers.

Bernie was also generous and showed her love often with thoughtful gifts.

Fun and random memories include learning to sew, cleaning the house well including the use of toothbrushes to get at the little things (definitely a Feder trait)!  She recalls sprinkling clothes with water and using the mangle ironer to help her mother iron the sheets and pillowcases, handkerchiefs, and dinner napkins plus tablecloths.  Those were the days!  Haha!

Bernie taught Kathleen how to bake and sew and write grammatically well and always encouraged all of us to do things with excellence.

Kathleen watched her mother live a life filled with serving her family and others, teaching and learning new things, being generous with others, always keeping her word even when it hurt, remaining faithful to family, living sacrificially, serving her church and community, and most importantly living a life filled with faith above all else.  Not simply going to church, but Kathleen remembers Bernie going to women’s Bible studies where they prayed for her and demonstrated the power of God as seen through answered prayer

Kathleen said, I think my mother always wondered if she was doing all she could for us, and as all parents often wonder if they are doing their best at meeting the needs of their family.  I didn’t always understand her as a child, but as an adult and parent myself, my mother’s priorities and commitments made more sense to me.  I hope she heard me deeply in her heart when I told her that I was grateful that she had been my mother and for all the sacrifices she made to make my life possible.  Like all parents, she was imperfectly the perfect mom for me.  I will miss her forever!

Maureen remembers…Mom followed Jesus and faithfully shared with others His love and completeness to save us by sharing the good news of the Gospel to countless others throughout her life.  She was very merciful and compassionate and cared about others in need.

Mom and Dad always had their home and dinner table open to anyone who was alone or needed companionship.  She made family gatherings around the holidays very memorable and beautiful.  Mom had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh and reminded me to always do the same.

She was a great cook and always encouraged us to practice our own creative cooking skills in our family kitchen.

She made cute outfits for my sister and me when we were growing up and taught us how to be good seamstresses.  Mom always had us choose our favorite cake on our birthdays and she’d make it very special for us.

Bill shares, my mom was my “buddy,” we had a lot of fun together going out to eat with her and my Dad over the years creating good memories.  She was always very supportive and always made me feel special.  When I was young, I did not care for mushrooms, so Mom made me my own personal size casserole aside from the family’s version, with no mushrooms.  She was my den mother when I was a Cub Scout around age 9.  At the time we used an old Charlie Brown plastic shampoo figure which we painted on a Cub Scout uniform, and she made a little cloth Scout scarf to tie around his neck!  She was a very caring Mom, and we always made each other laugh.

Epitaph:  Bernie McCallister loved Jesus and people above all else.

The family of Bernie McCallister wishes to express our sincere thanks for the flowers and other expressions of love and support during our time of bereavement.

VISITATION: Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 10:00 AM, with CELEBRATION OF LIFE at 11:00 AM, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha. A luncheon will follow.

 In lieu of flowers, Memorial gifts are suggested to OPERATION BLESSING, 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA https://www.ob.org/donate/whereneededmost/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ob-Brand-bing-044988&utm_term=operation%20blessing&utm_content=Brand%20-%20Exact    OR TO

HARVEST CHURCH, 2819 S 125th Ave., Omaha, NE  68144

Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com