Irwin mom hopes to fund beach trips for sick kids in daughter's memory

Bernadette Flowers was born ready to take on the world.

She was lifting and turning her head before leaving the hospital, rolling over within a week and babbling a blue streak at an early age.

“She loved life and gave unconditional love to everyone,” said her mother, Stephanie Apone of Irwin.

Unfortunately, Bernadette was given only 17 years of life.

In 2013, when she was 12, Bernadette was diagnosed with a deep left temporal lobe brain tumor. Despite surgery and other treatments, she died July 25, 2018.

In the midst of her illness, Bernadette found a special place that brought her peace and happiness — Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Now, her mother and stepfather, Dan Apone, have established Bernie’s Beach House Foundation in the hopes of giving other children with life-threatening illnesses a vacation on the beach with their families.

Established in October 2022, the foundation so far has been able to give financial assistance to two families of young cancer patients.

“We’re coming up on the 5-year anniversary since Bernie’s passing, and our goal is to be able to send the first family to the beach in time for the 5-year ‘angel-versary,’ ” Stephanie Apone said.

Two fundraisers are planned to help with that goal.

Seatings of “Breakfast for Bernadette” are set for 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. May 7 at The Boulevard, 900 Towne Square Drive, Greensburg. A basket raffle and 50-50 drawing also are planned.

Advance tickets for $25, cash only, can be purchased at the restaurant’s takeout counter.

A Chinese auction will be available during a performance by the Susan Yadamec Dance Company at noon June 24 at Greater Latrobe Senior High School, 131 High School Road, Unity.

Loving the beach

Bernadette made her first trip to Myrtle Beach six weeks after her brain surgery in August 2015.

From then on, the family made a yearly trip there. The last one just four weeks before her death was funded by Make-A-Wish.

“We picked Myrtle Beach because we could get on a plane in Latrobe and only have a 1-hour flight,” Apone said. “Bernie had seizures, so for physical reasons, traveling-­wise, we could get there easily and then safely come home.

“It was a practicality, but it turned out to be a place we all loved.”

During the Make-A-Wish trip, the family stayed at The Breakers Resort. The resort will provide accommodations for families that Bernie’s Beach House sends to the beach.

“Bernie’s Beach House will pay for the stay, and The Breakers will give us a deep discount,” Apone said. “Whatever unit the family will be in, The Breakers will make it look like Bernie’s Beach House and provide goodies for the families to enjoy while they’re there.”

The Apones traveled back to Myrtle Beach last year for the first time since the Make-A-Wish trip.

“It was painful, but it was necessary and healing at the same time. That trip was the first inkling of an idea that we needed to do something to honor Bernadette and her memory,” Apone said. “She told me the night before we left Myrtle Beach the last time that, when we got home, she was gonna go downhill drastically and wouldn’t be here much longer.”

Still, her parents get ink­lings that the young woman who loved nature, animals, books, pizza, scary movies and music is still with them in spirit in the form of feathers and butterflies floating down, favorite songs coming on the radio.

“Bernie’s heart and soul were all about spreading love, making memories with loved ones and truly living every moment as if it was your last,” Apone said. “That’s what we want to be able to give to the children and their families.”

Information on Bernie’s Beach House Foundation and the upcoming fundraisers is available at berniesbeachhouse.org.