Bridgeport Resident, Owner of Multiple Businesses, Virginia Margaurete Berardi, Passes Away at Age 101
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on February 04, 2026
Virginia Margaurete Berardi, 101, of Bridgeport, passed away at her home on Saturday, January 31, 2026. She was born in Phenix City, Alabama on December 11, 1924, a daughter of the late Charles Robert Lloyd and Laura (Newsome) Lloyd.
In addition to her parents, Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, the late Dr. Henry Mario Berardi, her son, Jerry Anthony Berardi, and her grandson, Brent Anthony Berardi.
She is survived by her daughter, Lori Berardi Gemondo of Bridgeport; three grandchildren – Dawn Elizabeth Berardi of Bridgeport, Christopher Michael Gemondo of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Elleyse Nicole DiVita of Charleston; and three great-grandchildren – Lindsey Marie Berardi of Birch River, Ian Anthony Berardi of Fairmont, and Luca Joseph DiVita of Charleston.
Virginia graduated from Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama. After marrying in 1944, she traveled much of the world with her husband as part of a military family. While abroad, the family was stationed in Osaka, Japan, Bordeaux, France, and Frankfurt, Germany. Here at home, they spent significant time in various places including Chicago, IL, Washington, D.C., and San Antonio, TX. Virginia held mostly office administration jobs, but occasionally she stepped into particularly interesting and patriotic roles like working in a bomb plant in Aiken, SC. After the family settled in north central West Virginia, she spent the next 40 years working side-by-side with her husband in his optometric practice. She was a part-owner in multiple family-owned businesses such as Pearle Vision Center and Family Vision serving Bridgeport and the surrounding communities.
Virginia was a member of All Saints Catholic Church, and along with her husband, would regularly attend morning services at Immaculate Conception in Clarksburg. She loved to read, and became a voracious reader later in life. Every Thursday she enjoyed “Girls’ Day” with her daughter, Lori, later including her granddaughter, Elleyse. She loved her breakfasts at Bob Evans and could often be seen at Twin Oaks in the evenings with family. Always resilient, she did not understand what it was to complain. She provided unparalleled advice. She had a generous spirit to those in need. Above all, she was a believer of the Bible, a powerful woman of prayer, and she knew the Lord.
Family and friends will be received at All Saints Catholic Church in Bridgeport on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 from 3-7 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 6:30 p.m. to conclude the visitation. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at All Saints Catholic Church with Father Walt Jagela presiding. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Clarksburg.
Burnside Funeral Home, Bridgeport
