Bernadette Irene (Blank) Cunningham Ankeney

Bernadette Irene Cunningham Ankeney, 79, of Murrysville, passed away on September 2, 2023 after a 14 month battle with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma. She passed in the comfort of her home holding the hands of her loved ones.  Bernadette was born in Pittsburgh, PA on December 17, 1943 and was the daughter of Delmar and Irene (Susalla) Blank.  She grew up in Wilkinsburg and moved to Murrysville in the late 1960’s.  Bernadette is survived by 2 daughters; Laura Lannin (Michael) of Ramsey, NJ, and Irene Marzok (Chad) of Plum, PA. Her daughters were her pride and joy and she couldn’t have been more proud of them. She is also survived by five beautiful grandchildren: Julia, Victoria, Ella, Vaughn and Alexis who all lovingly called her ‘Grandma B’. She was always thankful for the closeness she shared with her grandchildren. And lastly, her newly adopted, 20 yr. old kitty, Lily Mae. 

Bernadette had a beautiful soul. She will be remembered as a compassionate, thoughtful, loving, supportive, selfless Mom, Grandmother, and caregiver. She spent most of her life caring for others unconditionally, no matter how challenging it was at times. In addition to her own family, she moved in 3 sets of Grandparents caring for each of them until they passed away, and helped care for her grandchildren on a daily basis.  She ended every conversation with ‘I love you’, and always let people know how much she cared about them, and how thankful she was for them. She was a strong-willed, courageous woman who never knew what it meant to quit.  Over the last year she never gave in, and never gave up fighting even though the lymphoma was relentless. She was an inspiration not only to her family, but to everyone who knew her. 

The same compassion she had for people, she also had for all animals. She loved feeding, and watching the beautiful birds that lived on her property. She adopted a lot of dogs and cats over the years regardless if they were healthy or very sick, even if it meant tube-feeding them 4 times a day, or bottle-feeding every hour, she did it happily. She did whatever needed to be done to make an animal feel that it was loved. She fostered feral cats, could never turn away a stray, and became a forever home for those who didn’t have one. She was also an avid Steelers and Pirates fan, loved Elvis, British TV mysteries, and the ocean. 

She is pre-deceased by twin siblings (a brother and sister who died at birth), parents, Delmar and Irene Blank, her husband of 25 years, Theodore (Teddie) Ankeney, who passed on December 13, 2009, and her first husband James H. Cunningham, whom she cared for between March 2013 and March 28, 2023, until his passing.

We would like to thank everyone at Gallagher Home Care and Hospice for the wonderful care they provided during a very difficult year, especially Kerri, who was her nurse for the last 12 months.

Her ashes will be scattered off the coast of Hawaii. Donations in her memory may be made to Pet Friends, Inc. Irwin, PA. http://www.petfriendsinc.com

Grandma B, I hope you got my letter in heaven. I am so sad that you are gone and wish I could hug you one more time. I will see you again someday. I love and miss you. Love Vaughn (your handsome little man).