Worcester, NY

Bernard Francis Cerra, age 93, passed away on Friday, June 4th 2010 at his home in Worcester, New York with his wife Minnie and family at his side. Born December 3, 1916 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, his parents were Italian immigrants Francesca and Pasquale Cerra. His father worked in the coalmines and later for the D&H Railroad. He is preceded in death by four siblings, Rose Pascoe, Louis Cerra, Jenny Carline, and Patrick Cerra .

Mr. Cerra moved to Oneonta at age 14, and spent the rest of his life in this area. His schooling included graduation from Oneonta High School (1934), a three-year program at Oneonta Normal School (1937), his BS from SUNY Albany and later his MS in Education from Syracuse University (1946). Always a strong student, he also excelled in leadership and athletics, serving as president of his fraternity and captain of his college basketball team.

In 1937 Mr. Cerra began his teaching career in East Worcester, teaching JH English and Social Studies, and coaching several sports. He met his future wife Minnie, a star basketball player, when he coached the sport. Meeting later in Albany, they married October 13, 1940 at St. Joseph's Church in Worcester. That same year Worcester Central School hired Mr.Cerra as sixth grade teacher in English. For the next 39 ½ years, Mr. Cerra served the Worcester school district as teacher, principal and superintendent. He was President of the Worcester Teachers Association, a member of the NY State Teachers Association, the National Education Association and the State Committee to Review Regents Scholarship papers and served as Director of Adult Education at Worcester Central.

"Ben" Cerra, as he was known to his friends and family, was a member and past president of the Rotary Club, a leader and committeeman for the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, an American Legion Post 1584 member for 60 years, a member of the Civil Defense Evaluation Committee, a delegate to the NY State House of Delegater, and chairman of the Worcester Board of Fire Commissioners. He served his country in the US Navy during World War II and the National Guard. He has been a member of St. Joseph's Parish for 69 years and was instrumental when he volunteered to lead the renovation and capital improvements projects over the past many years. In retirement his avocation was his garden, which was planted with his usual administrative skill: not a stone was to be found. Also, during these years he and Minnie traveled abroad in eleven separate trips, five of the trips being to Italy.

Bernard Francis Cerra is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife Minnie; four children Patrick (Burnie) Cerra, Frank (Kathie) Cerra, Theresa VanDeCarr, Deborah (Peter) Sheftic; ten grandchildren David (Catherine) Cerra, Lisa (Daniel) Klus, Francesca (Jeffrey) Brynski, Joshua (Nikki) Cerra, Christa (Mark) Ople, Nicole Cerra, Michelle (John) Griffin, Sara Jo VanDeCarr, Dana Sheftic, and Erica Sheftic; and nine great grandchildren: Marcella and Alexandra Cerra, Jacob and Nicholas Klus, Maria and David Brynski, Benjamin and Bryan Griffin, and Lucia Cerra. He is also survived by brother-in-law Albert (Virgie) Naples, sisters-in-law Philomena Naples and Mary Cerra and their families.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at St. Joseph's Church, 201 Main Street, Worcester, NY. Fathers Ronald Green and Timothy Naples will be officiating. Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at the E.J. Skinner Co. Funeral Chapel, 155 Main Street, Worcester NY. Interment will take place at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Emmons at the convienance of the family.

The Cerra family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be make to the Bernard F. Cerra Memorial Scholarship Fund, WCS, 198 Main Street, Worcester, New York 12197.

The Cerra family also wishes to express its gratitude to Cobleskill Hospice employees, to caregivers Rachel Luci, Alberta McCoy,Mary Roe,Erica Morel and friends who have assisted the family in these last days and months.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.skinnerfuneralchapel.com.

The E.J. Skinner Co. Funeral Chapel in Worcester is serving the family.