Anna Barbara Cavan Bernil passed peacefully at the home of her eldest daughter in Southern California on the morning of August 7th, 2021.

Anna is survived by her five children & spouses, four loving grandchildren & spouses, six siblings & extended family across the globe. Anna was born on March 17, 1928, in Hamakuapoko, Maui to Maria Dacayanan Cavan & Benito Cavan. The eldest daughter from a family of ten, Anna cared for her younger siblings & children in the community. Her fondest childhood memories were smelling the ocean while sinking her toes in the sand collecting opihi & ogo (clams & seaweed).

Anna graduated from Kaimuki High School on the island of Oahu. On July 2,1948, she was married to Heriberto H. Bernil, newly enlisted in the US Navy, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Kaimuki, Oahu. Over the next 15 years they welcomed seven children into the world across Hawaii, Rhode Island, California & Japan. Her Catholic upbringing & faith enabled her to learn, live & raise their family with a multicultural blend unique to the Pacific, Asia & the United States. Anna's passion for community, faith & family guided her to act as an interpreter for families serving in the US Military in Japan. Embodying Christ's unconditional love, she removed cultural barriers by embracing all peoples in her community, encouraging others to participate in traditions, language & of course food.

In 1968, the Bernil family moved to Millington, Tennessee, where she & Heriberto became pillars of the St. William Catholic Church community as a Eucharistic Minister & received Woman of the Year in 2009. She co-founded the Filipino-American Association of Millington, Tennessee in 1973 & was awarded the Fil-Am lifetime achievement award. In 2011 she received the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at St. Mark Baptist Church Community Service Award.

Anna was a woman of grace who opened her heart & home to everyone. She was preceded in death by her husband Heriberto, two children & grandchild. She will be deeply missed by her Ohana, friends & all who knew her.

Anna will be buried in a private service with the immediate family. Due to the current Covid situation, a Celebration of Life will be scheduled later, to be determined & announced.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities of West Tennessee, the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society or St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Anna's name.