Carl Hargreaves
Bernard Hargreaves passed away on July 2, 2024 at his home in Mission Viejo, California. After an abrupt diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, he ultimately succumbed to the disease at the age of 68 with his loving wife of 38 years, Janet, by his side.
Bernard was born in Blackburn, Lancashire on August 8, 1955 to a full house that would grow to include his five brothers, Ian, Russell, Steve, Andrew, and Allan, and his sister, Elaine. He attended Leicester Polytechnic where he earned a degree in Industrial Engineering and later received a master’s education from Cranfield University. After completing his studies Bernard held various engineering posts, which ultimately led to his arrival to the US in 1979. He then worked as an auditor, holding a managerial position at Southern California Edison for 19 years before ultimately retiring in 2013.
Bernard was loved dearly by those that knew him and notorious for his quick wit. He always loved to joke, was easy going by nature, and took full enjoyment in life’s little pleasures. He was a lifelong Blackburn Rovers Football Club supporter, an unabashed lover of Cosmopolitan cocktails and spent much of his free time chasing golf balls around the courses of Orange County with his friends. Having spent his boyhood singing in the Blackburn Cathedral choir, he was a proud member of St. Kilian's Church and spent his springtimes there volunteering his time to provide gratis tax preparation services for families in need.
Bernard is survived by his wife, Janet, and three sons, Carl, Zachary and Jordan. A memorial service will be held at Pleasington Chapel in Blackburn, England at 10:30am on July 26. A celebration of life ceremony will additionally be held at a later date for his friends and loved ones in California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to the National Pancreas Foundation, whose grants help fund groundbreaking pancreatic cancer & pancreatic disease research, at https://pancreasfoundation.org/ways-to-give/general-donation/.
