Bernadine P. Kelso

BERNADINE P. KELSO

(BARTOS)

Age 90, passed away on Monday, February 5^th, 2024 at her home in Tinley Park.                   

Bernadine is survived by her loving family, children, Terri Tamer, Joe (Noreen) Kelso, Jack Kelso, Mary (Reinhart) Dietz, Donna (Dave) Riordan, Bill Kelso, Jim (Jenny) Kelso, Susan (John) Goetsch, grandchildren, Chris Tamer, Rikki (Rich) Treece, MaryElizabeth (Reid) Brinkoetter, Joe Kelso, Nick Kelso, Zach Kelso, Jacob Kelso, Angela Kelso, Raymond Kelso, Andrea Parthun, Amanda (Nick) Gibson, Melissa (Chris) Skiniotes, Matthew Goetsch, Ryan Goetsch, great grandchildren, Abby (Daniel) Joyner, Max (Kase) Tamer, Alex Treece, Devin Rosentreter, Avery Rosentreter, Annelise Gibson, Reagan Gibson, Palmer Gibson, Leighton Gibson and great great grandchild Emma Joyner.   

Bernadine was preceded in death by her parents, Frank & Mary Bartos (Mudrok), husband, Joe Kelso, children, Tom Kelso, Anastasia Kelso, son in-law, Ron Tamer, grandchildren, Jonathan Tamer, Katie Tamer, Allen Goetsch, siblings, Helen Blake, Tom Bartos, Sr. Mary Francesca Bartos O.P., Veronica Klepfer, James Bartos, Mike Bartos and twin brother Bernard Bartos.

Bernadine was born in Chicago on September 10, 1933, at Michael Reese Hospital. She was a twin and the youngest of 8 children of Frank Bartos and Mary Mudrok. All her siblings have preceded her in death. 

Bernadine attended Our Lady of Good Counsel grammar school and graduated from St. Mary’s High School. Bernadine loved going to dance classes downtown as a young girl and having fun with her twin brother Buddy. 

She married Joe Kelso on November 28,1953, and stayed home to raise a family. She was the beloved mother of 10 children, 17 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild and we all have beautiful and found memories of her and our family together.

Bernadine worked for Kohl’s, Standard Brands and Andrew Corporation and retired from Andrew Corporation in 1993. Bernadine was a member of the Andrew Corporation Retirees Club. 

Bernadine, Joe & family, moved to Mokena in 1975 and were members of St. Mary’s parish. In 1996 Bernadine & Joe moved to New Lenox and were active members of St. Jude’s Parish where she belonged to the CCW and was a Eucharist Minister at church and for the homebound. After Joe’s passing, she moved to Bolingbrook to live with her daughter and son-in-law. In 2020, Bernadine moved to Tinley Park with her daughter, to be closer to family. 

After months of battling two different cancers and then having a mild stroke, she passed away on Monday, February 5, 2024, peacefully surrounded by her loving family. She will be forever in our hearts. 

Bernadine loved dancing, music, bowling, and playing games on her computer. She loved watching Date Line, 48 Hours, Blue Bloods, Jeopardy, Wheel-of-Fortune, EWTN, and Dancing with the Stars. Bernadine was also a Third Order Carmelite in the Mystical Star of Mount Carmel Community. She was very dedicated to praying her daily office and rosary.

Family will receive friends at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 65 Old Frankfort Way, Frankfort, IL 60423 on Thursday, February 8^th, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM.  Funeral service, Friday, February 9^th, 2024 with prayers at the funeral home at 11:30 AM and then to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 19515 115^th Avenue, Mokena, IL 60448 for a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 PM.  Interment, Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery, Alsip, IL.  In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be greatly appreciated.