Bernadette "Bernie" Semeniuk

Bernadette Josephine “Bernie” Semeniuk (98) of Beltsville, MD passed away peacefully on Friday, October 31, 2025. She was born in 1926 to Joseph and Frances Marcellino in Baltimore, MD. She grew up in Baltimore and attended St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church and School. She worked for fifteen years as a telephone operator at the C&P Telephone Company in the city. The genuine kindness in her “number, please!” resonated beyond her career at the switchboard and into the connections she fostered with her family, friends, and church community. Bernadette married the love of her life, Peter “Pete” Semeniuk, in 1956, and they shared 48 years of marriage until his death in 2004.

Bernadette was devoted to her family and loved to crochet, cook, and bake for her loved ones. She frequently reminded her family of her own mother’s famous words, “If you can read, you can cook!” and put this advice into practice. Her signature recipe, known colloquially as “Grandmom’s Bread,” was a staple at family gatherings for decades. She loved laughter and often made jokes and witty remarks that brought smiles to everyone around her. In her later years, some of her favorite things were the simple pleasures: playing Skip-Bo with family, enjoying a slice of pizza or a cannoli, and sipping on a cold root beer.

Bernadette and Pete became parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beltsville, MD in 1962. For many years, Bernadette attended daily mass and Eucharistic Adoration. A longtime member of the Rosary Group, Bernadette made rosaries for donation to various evangelization projects. She was also a member of the Prayer Apostolate, which gathered for monthly prayer and fellowship, and was a member of the church’s prayer chain. In previous years, she also volunteered in the cafeteria at St. Joseph Catholic School and gave of her time and talents in support of the church’s annual Christmas Bazaar by making crafts and baking cookies.

Bernadette is survived by her three daughters Josephine “JoAnn” Pesi (Mark), Mary Kirchner (Robert), and Ann Patterson (Eric); seven grandchildren Michael (Tschuna), Angela (Nathan), Kelly (Brian), Sarah, Christine, Mark, and Daniel; and four great-grandchildren Max, Mason, Leo, and Peyton.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Pete, her sisters Carmella and Josephine, and her brother Salvadore.

In lieu of sending flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 11007 Montgomery Road, Beltsville, MD 20705.