Jean Dimock Bernabo

Jean Audrey Dimock Bernabo died peacefully on March 9 at her home in Fairwinds Rio Rancho Retirement Center.

The eldest daughter of the late Percy and Alfreida Dimock, Jean was born in Meriden, CT on March 1, 1928, and graduated from Meriden High School. A friend at work, Betty Vince, introduced her baby brother to Jean, who married Louis Bernabo on May 9, 1953 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Meridan, CT. They spent 62 years together.

Lou was an officer in the U.S. Air Force, and they lived all around the world: Wiesbaden, Germany; Burlington, VT; Orlando, FL; McGuire AFB, NJ; and Yokota AFB, Japan. After 20 years in the service, they retired to the new community of Rio Rancho, NM, where they became long-time members of All Saints Lutheran Church in nearby Paradise Hills. Jean was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and Stan “the Man” Musial. In recent years she became obsessed with watching Steph Curry play basketball, asking everybody every day “Is there a game tonight?” Jean was also devoted to opera singer Joan Sutherland, crooner Frank Sinatra, and read everything Agatha Christie ever wrote.

Besides her husband and parents, Jean was preceded in death by her brother, Arlan Dimock.

Jean is survived by her sister Carol Kania of CT and brother Bruce Dimock of FL; her two sons, Douglas Bernabo and wife Kristie of Fairview, OR and Dr. Lawrance Bernabo and wife Dierdre of Duluth, MN; her five grandchildren, Michael Bernabo, Dr. Laurena Bernabo, Tony Bernabo , Zac Bernabo, and Maggie Henstorf; three great-grandchildren, Kieran, Korey and Renley Henstorf; Dr. Elizabeth Nelson of MN, and her many nieces, nephews and friends.

The family extends a special thanks to the staff of Fairwinds, High Desert Hospice for providing such loving care to Jean in her final years. A memorial service will be held at All Saints Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 15 at 10:00 am with a reception following the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to All Saints Lutheran Church at 4800 All Saints Road, Albuquerque, NM 87120. Funeral arrangements will be through Daniels Family Funeral Services Sara Chapel. A burial will be at Vista Verde Memorial Park in Rio Rancho later this month.