Marianne Bernard 1949-2024

Marianne was born in Youngstown on April 9, 1949. She graduated from Ursuline High School in 1967 and soon after became a radiologic technologist. Later, she worked as the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department’s fiscal officer and then oversaw the financial operations for her shared small business. However, the work that most defined her time on earth was her care and compassion for those who were oppressed, forgotten and downtrodden. She never forgot that she, too, was saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus and not by her own works (Ephesians 2:8-10) as she shared her faith with others, including those in prison.

Marianne was an intelligent and passionate communicator. She authored the blog “God’s Promises are Real,” which has received over one million hits and has thousands of followers. The core message throughout her writings was this: “God has a perfect plan for your life, and it cannot fail or be taken from you. All you need to do is trust your life to Jesus Christ, who died to give you eternal life. His love will do the rest.”

Her parents, Theresa A. Bernard and Joseph E. Bernard; and her beloved brother, Frank J. Bernard, preceded her in death.

Marianne was greatly loved by and deeply connected with her family in Dublin; she is survived by her daughter, Lisa Christen Gajary; her son-in-law, Istvan Gajary; and her grandson, John Silas Gajary. She is also survived by her sister, Margaret Lawrence of Chicago; her half-sister, Annette Raina Bernard of Columbus; and her sister-in-law, Martha Bernard of Long Beach, California. She is dearly missed by her nephews and nieces — all of whom adored their Aunt Marianne — as well as her extended family, church family, friends, Ursuline classmates and Bear Woods / River Forest neighbors.

A celebration of life for Marianne will take place on May 11, 2024, at Fellowship Bible Chapel (FBC), Sunbury. (Please check the Schoedinger Dublin website for details and updates on this event).

One special way to honor Marianne’s life would be to donate to FBC’s “Marianne Bernard Memorial Fund,” which supports the work of the fellowship she loved (please see contact information at https://fbchapel.com/).

Finally, Marianne loved and rescued countless animals; donations may also be made in her honor to the Ohio Wildlife Center (https://www.ohiowildlifecenter.org/donate/).

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