Bernice Nufrio Drozd

Mrs. Bernice Nufrio Drozd, 66, of Linden, New Jersey died on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, in the Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey with her loving husband and cherished girls right by her side.

Family and friends are invited to the visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden on Sunday, September 19^th. from 2:00-6:00PM.  On Monday, September 20^th. at 8:30AM, everyone will start to gather in the funeral home where a prayer service will begin at 9:00AM, followed by the funeral mass to be offered in St. John the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Linden/Clark at 10:00AM.  The prayers of committal will precede Bernice’s entombment in the family crypt in St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Bernice’s memory to the American Cancer Society online at http://www.cancer.org or by mail at P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.

Bernice, the daughter of the late Mary Josephine Cusumano Nufrio and the late V. Anthony Nufrio, was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and grew up in Linden, New Jersey, where she lived to this day.

She was a graduate of Mother Seton High School in Clark, New Jersey, Class of ‘72. Bernice received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, Class of ‘76. 

Bernice loved every minute of her more than 25-year career spent working for various airlines. She retired last year after being the duty station manager for SAS Airlines at Newark Airport for over seventeen years.

Bernice was a proud and true “Jersey Girl”. Her social calendar was always full, and she spent her nights regularly on the phone with family and friends. Bernice was a fan girl of the New York Yankees and the New York Football Giants.  Some of her favorite times were at the Stadium with her girls and with her dad as a little girl.

She loved to travel to any warm weather destination and was the woman with the year-round tan.  Annual trips to Florida and Disney were the best memories with her family. Later, the cruising bug bit her and became the new annual family tradition. The best times were had with her entire family including Patti, Rich & her “girls” Amanda, Rebecca & Alexandra.  You could always find Bernice in the pool floating in her chair.  Music was always a part of Bernice’s life and she especially enjoyed going to Broadway shows.  FedEx & UPS drivers made regular stops at Bernice’s home because she loved to shop. Everyone knew it was her favorite hobby.  Once the younger generation arrived, Bernice was gifted with the nicknames of “BeBe” and “Gabby” and Bernice reveled in receiving those loving monikers.  Even with all of this going on in her life, nothing compared to spending time with her family, especially her twin girls.  They were the center of her world and she told them how much she loved them and how proud she was of them every single day.  She was especially grateful to love and adore her two grandchildren.  They became her heart and soul and she loved them dearly.

Predeceased by her sister, Mary-Anne Conner, Bernice is survived by her husband of nearly thirty-nine years, Richard H. Drozd; her two daughters, Erica Drozd and Lindsey Fingerlin and her husband, Richard A. Fingerlin, Jr; her brother-in-law, James Conner; her two nephews, James Conner and his wife, Carissa and Brett Conner and his wife, Nicole; her two grandchildren, Colton Fingerlin and Demi Fingerlin and her favorite sisters-in-law, several close cousins, nieces & nephews, other loving family members and cherished friends.

Bernice, the center of life for her family, was a woman of many talents and had an abundance of love for everyone in her circle. She was the strongest and most positive woman and never let anyone see her without a smile.  She had a zest for life and everyone who met her, even for a brief moment, felt her warmth.  She will be deeply missed and never forgotten.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.