Obituary for Charlene Alma Gertz (Bernard)
Charlene Alma (Bernard) Gertz, age 85, a longtime resident of Dracut, passed away following a brief illness at Lowell General Hospital on Friday, December 30, 2022 surrounded by her loving family.
She was born in Lowell on April 18, 1937 and was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Lucie (Gendreau) Bernard. She loved the small-town experience, growing up in a close-knit neighborhood in Dracut Center with aunts, uncles, and cousins next door. She enjoyed raising her own family in Dracut as well.
A graduate of Dracut High School, Charlene began her career in an administrative position at Hanscom Airforce Base in Bedford. She later worked for more than 20 years at Digital Equipment Corp. in Bedford. She was an efficient and friendly employee, advancing many times throughout her career. She also made friendships with coworkers that lasted many years. One such friendship brought her to London, England, and the surrounding areas, including Stonehenge. She considered that visit the trip of a lifetime!
Charlene took a break from her busy career to raise her young family. She took great pleasure in spending the days with her children, whether bringing them for swim lessons or cooking their favorite meals. She was a fiercely protective “mama bear,” never backing down when it came to advocating for her kids. She also loved vacationing at Hampton Beach, NH, with her family. In later years, she enjoyed babysitting her seven grandchildren.
A voracious reader, Charlene enjoyed many genres. She shared her love of reading with her grandchildren, reading to them in her soothing voice while snuggling up with a favorite book. She also immensely appreciated the beauty of butterflies, collecting many prints and butterfly keepsakes.
Charlene is survived by her daughter, Michelle Gertz of Lowell; her sons, Edward M. Gertz and his wife Susan of Boynton Beach, FL, William T. Gertz and his wife Alicia of Hollis, NH, and Anthony N. Gertz and his wife Meredith of Nashua, NH; her grandchildren, Jennifer, Alaina, Nathan, Zachary, Aaron, Jesse, and Alex; and her brother, Benjamin “Benny” Bernard.
Sadly, in addition to her parents, Charlene is predeceased by her twin brother Charles Bernard.
Funeral services were held privately in accordance with Charlene’s wishes. Donations may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society at https://donate3.cancer.org or the Monarch Watch butterfly conservation program at monarchwatch.org/donate.
She was born in Lowell on April 18, 1937 and was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Lucie (Gendreau) Bernard. She loved the small-town experience, growing up in a close-knit neighborhood in Dracut Center with aunts, uncles, and cousins next door. She enjoyed raising her own family in Dracut as well.
A graduate of Dracut High School, Charlene began her career in an administrative position at Hanscom Airforce Base in Bedford. She later worked for more than 20 years at Digital Equipment Corp. in Bedford. She was an efficient and friendly employee, advancing many times throughout her career. She also made friendships with coworkers that lasted many years. One such friendship brought her to London, England, and the surrounding areas, including Stonehenge. She considered that visit the trip of a lifetime!
Charlene took a break from her busy career to raise her young family. She took great pleasure in spending the days with her children, whether bringing them for swim lessons or cooking their favorite meals. She was a fiercely protective “mama bear,” never backing down when it came to advocating for her kids. She also loved vacationing at Hampton Beach, NH, with her family. In later years, she enjoyed babysitting her seven grandchildren.
A voracious reader, Charlene enjoyed many genres. She shared her love of reading with her grandchildren, reading to them in her soothing voice while snuggling up with a favorite book. She also immensely appreciated the beauty of butterflies, collecting many prints and butterfly keepsakes.
Charlene is survived by her daughter, Michelle Gertz of Lowell; her sons, Edward M. Gertz and his wife Susan of Boynton Beach, FL, William T. Gertz and his wife Alicia of Hollis, NH, and Anthony N. Gertz and his wife Meredith of Nashua, NH; her grandchildren, Jennifer, Alaina, Nathan, Zachary, Aaron, Jesse, and Alex; and her brother, Benjamin “Benny” Bernard.
Sadly, in addition to her parents, Charlene is predeceased by her twin brother Charles Bernard.
Funeral services were held privately in accordance with Charlene’s wishes. Donations may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society at https://donate3.cancer.org or the Monarch Watch butterfly conservation program at monarchwatch.org/donate.