Bernadette Marie Colletti (nee Travers), 69, of Chicago, passed away on March 16, 2024, surrounded by family, after a short battle with cancer. She was the loving bride & travel buddy of almost 50 years to Michael Sr., a devoted mother to Michael Jr. (Sheila), Matthew (Erica), Alyssa (Taylor), & Anna (Anthony) Gliffe. She was a nurturing Boka to Mary Eleanor, Sophia Bernadette, Felicia Margaret, Eleanor Grace, & Aurora, and a caring Godmother to Lauren, Charlie & Katie. She was a loyal daughter of Margaret and the late Charles Travers and sister  to the late Patrick, Timothy (Patricia), Michael (Sarah), Catherine (Denis) O’Connor, Margaret (David) Needleman, Terence, Mary Teresa, Norah (Eamonn) O’Connor, the late Thomas, Rita (Noel) Skelton, Barbara, Rosemary (Conal) Gillespie, Aidan (Denise), & Sheila, and sister-in-law to the late Mary Catherine, Linda, Jerome (Catherine), Susan (Jerry) Jeffries, Nicholas (MaryKay), Joseph (Nancy), John (the late Rosemary), Peter (Faith), & Anthony (Lisa). Finally, she was an Aunt, Great Aunt, & Cousin to many. 

Bernadette was a Girl Scout Leader who provided countless young girls the opportunity to excel and grow into successful young women. She guided her young ladies to earn over forty Girl Scouts of America Gold Awards, the highest honor a Scout can achieve. She worked tirelessly in support of forensic activities, contributing greatly to the National Catholic Forensic League as hostess to eight Grand National Tournaments.   

Most importantly, family was her number one priority. From cooking a ham for the Travers Family Picnic to setting up kids birthday parties, she was always there to help. She was the oldest daughter of the Travers fifteen, and many called her their strongest sister. From involvement in all of her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, to family vacations across the country, she immersed herself in whatever each day’s adventure brought. 

Visitation Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge. Funeral Services begin at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, at the funeral home, and then proceed to Queen of All Saints Basilica 6280 N. Sauganash in Chicago for Mass at 10:00 a.m. The interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside. For more information call (708)456-8300.



In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Bernadette’s name to: Baby Spirit Foundation:  https://www.babyspirit.org/donate