Bernadette Mary Toner (née Donnelly), 87, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2024, in Port Saint Lucie, FL.

Bernadette was born to Joseph and Margaret Donnelly in Philadelphia on July 15, 1936. Exceptionally bright and a talented dancer, Bernadette graduated early from Gwynedd Mercy Academy to move to NYC to become a Radio City Rockette for two years.

Upon her return to Philadelphia, she opened her own dance studio in Glenside, PA, and began a long and fruitful career in choreography. She choreographed the Bishop McDevitt marching band to a championship, Mummers groups for the Mummers Day Parade, and high school musicals in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area. It was choreographing a high school musical where she met Gerald "Zeke" Toner, the director. They married in 1967 and were happily married until his death in 2014.

Bernadette became co-captain and choreographer for the Philadelphia Eaglettes, a kickline with the Philadelphia Eagles, as part of their Sound of Brass, 1963-68.

She choreographed a similar Eaglettes kickline at Paul VI High School in South Jersey, where graduates may remember her standing on the roof of the convent yelling down at a line of 50 high school girls.

She worked for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1970-95 as entertainment coordinator and attended every home game for 25 years. She loved the team and was honored to celebrate with Julius Erving and other Sixers on the 1983 championship float.

Bernadette raised two strong and opinionated daughters and a very fuzzy Newfoundland in Gloucester Township, NJ.  She and Zeke lived there for 20 years before beginning their move southward, starting with Topsail Island, NC.

In 1996 they moved further south to Hutchinson House on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, FL. Here they made new lifelong friends and enjoyed decades of laughter. Bernadette was known for teaching water aerobics classes and took great pride in serving for a time as Commodore of the marina, despite her extreme dislike of being on a boat.

Bernadette is survived by daughters Bernadette (husband Michael Collins) and Jennifer (husband Jack Pope), and her brother Joseph Donnelly and his beautiful family (wife Kathleen, children Eileen, Joseph, Christopher, Brendan, and Kathleen). Bernadette is preceded in death by husband Gerald Toner, son-in-law Michael Collins, and countless friends and family whom she loved very much.

The Toner sisters would like to sincerely thank the friends and family who supported us and helped Mom during her Alzheimer's journey over the last 10 years. Her Hutchinson House friends and neighbors, as well as our friends, family and colleagues, have helped us in ways that words cannot fully express. Very special thanks to Maureen Thompson, an honorary Toner sister and extraordinary caregiver for the last 10 years. Thank you.

Donations in Bernadette's name can be made to:

ASPCA: https://secure.aspca.org/donate/donate

Kane Center, Council on Aging of Martin County: https://www.kanecenter.org/foundation/donate-today

Treasure Coast Hospice:https://www.treasurehealth.org/292/Donate

Please feel free to share a remembrance or message of condolence with the family through this online guestbook.