Donor Story: John & Bernie McKay

We ask our donors to ‘leave a legacy’, a fund that will allow their memory and generous spirit to live on. John & Bernadette McKay did just that, establishing a named fund with a gift in their will.

Sadly less than a year later, that legacy has begun.

John, who suffered from dementia passed away at The Croft rest home in February 2024, and as often happens when you lose a loved one, Bernie’s health took a dramatic turn and she passed away at Timaru Hospital a few months later.

Aoraki Foundation Gift and Community Advisor, Kirsty Burnett made a number of visits to Bernie after John passed, and during that time she captured the story of this amazing couple.

Bernadette (Bernie) was the elder daughter of Mr & Mrs D.W Seal. Born in 1945 in Te Puke, her family relocated to Waimate where she attended primary school. After a short period in Greymouth, her family moved to Invercargill where she attended secondary school before moving to Timaru where she lived with her parents at 52 Evans Street.

John was the youngest son of Mrs M.E McKay, born and raised in Timaru, attended Timaru Boys High, and lived at 100 Evans Street where the family had a store called Hardie and McKay.

Bernie and John met at the Playhouse as they both shared a passion for theatre. They were married at St Josephs Church on Douglas Street in 1969.

John's work in theatre design and restoration took him around the world. They shared a passion for the arts, animals, and travel.

Bernie said theatre and the arts were a lot of hard work and devotion that was always rewarded by seeing the smiles and happiness that this work brought to people.

Bernie worked as an experienced make-up artist and was supervisor of the entire makeup department for TVNZ. She also worked for Sky TV for 23 years and continued in this line of work until she retired at age 74. During that time Bernie rubbed shoulders with and made up the faces of many famous NZ actors including Temuera Morrison, Billy T James. She also met Elton John.

Bernie and John had a passion for South Canterbury, and in retirement, moved from Auckland back to Timaru to live in the place that they called home.

John passed away with Alzheimer’s at The Croft rest home on the 28th of February 2024 and Bernie had the company of her two little dogs – Daisy and Gemma until she passed not long afterward on the 5th of May 2024.

John & Bernie had no children but did have many special dogs throughout their life. It is no surprise that they requested that 25% of their fund be directed toward the care and protection of animals with the balance going to general purposes in South Canterbury.

John McKay Bernadette McKay

1944 - 2024 1945 - 2024