Obituary of Joseph William Bergin

Joseph William “Joe” Bergin, 73, of Kernersville, NC, passed away at home with his family after a battle with cancer on April 14, 2023 in Kernersville, NC.

Joe was born in New York, NY to Virginia (Miller) and Joseph Bergin on October 15, 1949. He was the oldest of their four children, He went to high school at Harbor Fields High School and graduated in 1967.  He was a proud Vietnam Veteran who served his country in the United States Army and was known to his unit as “Broadway Joe”. He fell in love with Chris, his wife of 50 years in 1972, when on her way to work at a toy store, she walked past the vacuum store where he worked. He said, “I saw her walk past the window, she was wearing a sweater that was longer than her skirt, and I had never seen someone so beautiful in my life”. He worked as a Buyer/Merchandiser in the women’s designer shoe industry for 40 years when he was forced to retire due to health concerns. He was a wonderful father who taught his two daughters how to swim, ride a bike, and most importantly, how to understand the game of football. He had season tickets to the Buffalo Bills for the decade he lived in Buffalo, NY and loved taking his girls to games every year where they created lifelong memories. He was an avid sports fan who loved watching the NY Yankees and NY Mets Baseball teams, the Buffalo Sabres Hockey team, and in 40 years, never missed watching a game of his beloved Buffalo Bills Football team. In fact, watching the games together as a family every week for the past several years was a highlight of football season and something everyone looked forward to. He adored his two grandchildren and loved cheering them on at their baseball and soccer games, asking them what they learned in school (he was a huge history buff), telling them “grandpa” jokes, singing a special song, and watching them grow up right before his eyes.

Joe is survived by his wife, Chris Bergin of Kernersville, NC, daughters, Lori (Rich) Jakubowski of Greensboro, NC and Chrissy (Leonardo) Traversari of High Point, NC,  grandchildren Alana “Alana Alana Banana” Traversari and Braylen “Boo Boy” Traversari, sisters, Susan (Michael) Ajello and Ruthann (Vince) Buono, brother John Bergin, brother-in-law Thomas (Annmarie) Klonowski, grand dogs Chace, Opie, and Riley, and his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Ginger Bergin, grandparents Ruth McWilliams and Bill Curtis, and grand dog Bailey “Bill Bailey”.

Funeral Services will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kernersville, NC on Thursday, April 20,2023 at 11:00 am with Father Carter of Holy Cross officiating. Burial will follow at Salisbury National Cemetery, Salisbury, NC on Friday, April 21,2023 at 9:00 am. There will be a vigil service and rosary being held at Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 with visitation also being held from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Home will be handling the funeral arrangements.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care and the Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home.

Dad had a wonderful life full of many opportunities, successes, and accomplishments but he was most proud of being a husband, father, and grandfather and in our eyes he’s the GOAT. We love you Dad, always and forever. Go Bills!