Bernadette Pauline Lancaster

Mrs. Bernadette Pauline Lancaster, 90, of Frederick, Maryland passed away peacefully September 1, 2021 surrounded by her family.

Born October 22, 1930 in Bingham, Maine, She was the daughter of the late Rudolph and Alice Sullivan Guay.  She was the wife of late Thomas Parker Lancaster, who passed away November of 2009.  They were married 54 years.

Mrs. Lancaster was a 1949 graduate of Bingham High School and moved to Washington, DC in 1951 where she worked at National Institutes of Health. Shortly after, she met her husband Thomas and moved from Bethesda to Mount Airy in 1966 to raise their family.  Mrs. Lancaster was one of the original founders of Birthright of Frederick, which was founded in 1973 to offer love, friendship and support to women who are pregnant and/or think they might be pregnant. They provide care for pregnant women that are in need of support to care for themselves and/or their children.

She was a member of St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Libertytown, Maryland.  She believed in outreach and helping those in need. Her greatest joy was found in providing for those in greater need donating items to Birthright of Frederick and the Alan P. Linton, Jr. Emergency Shelter of Frederick as well as countless other organizations.

To know her was to love and admire her. She would look forward to visits with her friends and family members filled with laughs and wonderful conversation. Her amazing humor and wit made her a great storyteller. She had a hero’s strength and determination yet a servant’s heart. With humbleness and grace she made a huge impact on the community as she was an advocate and provider for those with no voice.

Bernadette is survived by five sons, Mark Lancaster and wife Judy of Middletown, Kevin Lancaster of Frederick, John Lancaster and wife Sandy of Colorado, Joseph Lancaster and wife Kim of North Carolina, Michael Lancaster and wife Cassy of Boonsboro and four daughters Paula Lancaster of Walkersville, Maria Grosskopf and husband Steve of Frederick, Megan Gorman and husband Patrick of North Potomac, and Katrin Lancaster of Frederick. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren Cathy Krajewski and husband Justin, Peter Lancaster and wife Ashley, Beth Doody and husband Mark, Emily Gambler and husband Cody, Erin Lancaster and husband Steve Goble, Whitney Thetford and husband Daniel, Ryan Lancaster and wife Kortney, Brien Lancaster and wife Alona, Daniel Lancaster and wife Emily, Morgan Lancaster, Samuel Lancaster, Thomas Grosskopf , Mark Grosskopf, John Grosskopf, Joseph Dock, Bekah Dietrich and husband Jordan, Ashley Lancaster, Timothy Gorman, Kaitlin Nash and husband Robbie, Ryan Stambach and Nathan Stambach. She is also survived by 22 great grandchildren Madison, Ashlyn, Jackson, Eric, Nicholas, Mason, Makaylie, Avery, Kendal, Levi, Noah, Owen, Clara, Jaxson, Sadie, Elliott, Theodore, Luke, Clayton, Oliver, Brayden and Cannon.

She is proceeded in death by her beloved sister Pauline and her four brothers Charles, Gerard, Francis and Edward and their dear spouses Pauline O., Helen, Barbara and Ruth.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10am Saturday, September 4 ^th at St. Peter’s the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 9190 Church St. Libertytown, MD 21762 with Fr. Frazier and Deacon John Martin as celebrants. Interment will be at St. Peter’s cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday, September 3 ^rd from 4 to 8 p.m. at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street Frederick, MD, 20701. Christian wake service will be at 5:30 p.m. in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Birthright of Frederick, 250 West Patrick St. Frederick, MD 21701 and/or Alan P. Linton, Jr. Emergency Shelter, the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs 27 DeGrange St. Frederick, MD 21701.