Bernadine Constable

Bernadine Harriet Rhonda Constable, affectionately known as “Dene” and “Bernie”, was born on December 6, 1959, in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She was a cheerful, loving, and talkative child who was both fearless and ready to accept new challenges. She attended Georgetown Public School and St. Mary Catholic School. While in school, Bernadine excelled, winning countless academic awards and always finishing either first or second in her class, alongside her twin sister, Bernadette. In search of new opportunities, her family emigrated to the United States; she was 6 years old.

As she adjusted to her new home, she excelled in her studies at St. Joseph’s School in Newark. She spent lots of time jumping double dutch and kickball with neighborhood friends and singing. She loved to sing. She started high school at Malcolm X Shabazz High School and graduated from the illustrious Barringer High School in 1977. Bernadine made friends easily and was popular, joining the pep squad and actively participating in Barringer’s football and basketball culture and the yearbook committee. It was at Barringer High School that she met Michael Grubbs, whom she would eventually marry, a union that produced the two loves of her life, Mychal and Chaia.

Bernadine received two bachelor’s degrees from Rutgers University in Psychology and Nursing in 1981 and 1985. She would go on to work as a labor and delivery nurse throughout New Jersey and Maryland, until she found her home at Trinitas Hospital. As she grew professionally, she opened herself to love again and married Emile Constable, adding to the richness of her family. Bernadine’s calling took her from bedside care and into the educational system where she became a School Nurse for Newark Public Schools’ Office of Early Childhood. Here, Bernadine served as the president of Newark Public Schools Nursing Association in Newark and the recording secretary for the Newark Teachers Association. She was a staunch advocate for school nurses. As a member of Tau Chi, Inc. of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc.™, she served as secretary; on the scholarship committee; chair of grant writing committee; and on the awards committee.

Bernadine touched the lives of many families throughout her tenure until her retirement in December 2023. It wasn’t until June of 2023, when Bernadine was to accept the biggest challenge of her life, a cancer diagnosis. She fought with a warrior’s spirit until the end. Bernadine passed peacefully in her home on August 30, 2024, surrounded by her children, family, and friends. She is survived by her children Mychal and Chaia, twin sister Bernadette Scott, sisters Greta Manners, Marilyn Frederick, Claire Edmund, LaVerne Wilson, Anthony Manners (Karla), and her lovely dog Bella. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, Office of Early Childhood family and Chi Eta Phi sisters. Bernadine joins her sister Diana Manners, stepdaughter Onieka Constable, and parents Muriel Manners (Commissiong) and Bertie Manners in paradise.

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