Edward Joseph Bergan

Edward J. "Ed" Bergan, of Willow Grove, PA, passed away at home on August 12, 2023 while surrounded by his loved ones. Ed is survived by his wife, Pauline (née Rauser); daughter, Kimberly (Gary); son, Tim; brother, Jack; sister, Betty; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins. He is predeceased by his sister, Norene; sister-in-law, Gerry; and brothers-in-law Jim and Ron.

Ed was born to John and Johanna (née Brennan) Bergan in Philadelphia, PA. As the youngest of 4 children, Ed was (of course) the most innocent but also most tortured child. Ed's receding hairline was said to have been caused by his sisters pouring scalding hot water on his head.  His brother seemed to forget giving Ed permission to borrow his brother's cars and motorcycles.  The trials and tribulations of the little brother were unending.

Ed attended grade school at St. Benedict, and high school at Cardinal Dougherty and Olney - all in Philadelphia, PA. Ed's passion was always working with his hands, and in his teens and early 20s he worked for many gas stations and auto mechanics - in one year semi-famously earning 22 different W-2's. Ed could often be found acquiring an inexpensive fixer-upper car, and bringing it back to life himself. In one notable instance, one of his cars abruptly blew a head gasket, and he was able to change and reassemble it in time to make his scheduled date with Pauline. Ed's mechanical aptitude certainly did not stop with cars - his mother was often heard to say that "all Edward has to do is touch it" in reference to miraculously repairing items around the house.

Ed went on to be a respected machinist and precision assembly technician. Departing from the days of frequent new employers, Ed was happily employed by Wiedemann for a total of 16 years before the company moved to North Carolina. Ed was considered a top technician and was often sent to the most important and complex jobs which absolutely needed to result in the highest quality products. Ed acted as company fire chief and often participated in organizing parties, picnics, and leagues. Needless to say, Ed was well-loved - even across "shop" versus "office" groups which could sometimes be contentious. In subsequent years, Ed continued to show his versatility and skill by managing a hardware store, operating as a painter and light carpenter, and working maintenance for St. David Church. Ed's next long-term place of employment was Neptune Chemical Pump, where he worked for 18 years. His wide breadth of knowledge and skills allowed him to seamlessly shift to different departments when needed - often helping to increase efficiency and train other workers along the way. It was during his time at Neptune that Ed was forced to change his tune from "engineers couldn't even turn a screwdriver" to something more like "engineers don't know what they're doing - except for my son". After Neptune was sold and moved out of state, the last long-term job which Ed ultimately held was perhaps the best fit that there ever was for his combination of mechanical skills and caring heart. As the maintenance manager at a home for retired priests, Ed was able to use his aptitudes and lifelong acquired abilities to help care for some of the kindest souls that he had encountered. Whether maintaining and repairing the facilities, optimizing snow removal for safety and convenience, assisting with vehicle maintenance, or even something entirely unfamiliar like arranging for building-wide Wi-Fi, Ed always did everything he could to make each day better and safer than the last. It was clear that he loved what he did, and he was loved in return. Even as Ed faced difficult medical procedures and the beginnings of declining health, he refused to allow it to affect his standards, and would never abandon nor even neglect his post.

In his church community, Ed continued to leverage his people-skills and caring nature. At some points most known as "the parking lot guy", Ed interacted with nearly all attendees of the Sunday 11:00 a.m. Mass while trying to ensure that all who wanted to attend could park in the lot. While Ed knew an amazing number of people by name, his lifelong love of cars often left him slightly more likely to remember someone by the car that they drove. After directing traffic for Mass, Ed also participated in Mass by serving as an usher. Outside of Mass, Ed also sat on the Buildings and Grounds Committee, served as a member of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society for 20 years, managed trips to minor league baseball games, and organized the yearly parish picnic with Pauline and the picnic committee for 19 years.

While Ed's work and volunteer efforts were always important to him, there was nothing closer to his heart than his family. He always liked to take his wife, Pauline, on road trips, to new restaurants, and to all manner of varied events. In some ways he also ended up like her personal shopper - always managing to find clothes and accessories which she loved as gifts for birthdays, Christmas, and other holidays. Ed's gift prowess did not stop with Pauline, as he was known to thrill his young daughter with each new teddy bear being larger than the last one. With his son, Ed joyfully shared his many skills, commitment to top quality, and love of baseball. Ed was an extremely supportive husband and father - always whole-heartedly believing that all good things which came to his family members were well-deserved and more, and always beaming with pride with a success story. At family parties, picnics, weddings, and other get-togethers, Ed's nieces and nephews could always count on him to be the life of the party - whether leading "the chicken dance", telling a funny story, or just simply making a funny noise or face.

Ed's presence will be sorely missed in many lives, but it is hoped that you will join his family in treasuring the good memories. If you have a "quintessential Ed" memory, please share it by leaving a tribute on Ed's Bryer's Funeral Home tribute wall, or by sending a private letter.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Funeral Mass on Monday, August 21, 2023 at 10:30am at St. David RC Church, 316 Easton Road, Willow Grove PA 19090. A viewing will be held in church beforehand from 9:30am to 10:15am. Interment will follow Mass in Calvary Cemetery, 235 Matsonford Rd, Conshohocken, PA 19428.

In lieu of flowers (and trees), Ed's family requests donations for the support of Ed's nephew Luke via the Luke Tynan Medical Fund. Information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/WeareLukestrong. Donations can be sent by Venmo @LukeTynan-MedicalFund, Paypal PayPal.me/lukestrong2017, or by check made payable to the Luke Tynan Medical Fund and mailed to 219 E. Richardson Ave., Langhorne, PA 19047.

Arrangements by John J. Bryers Funeral Home, 215-659-1630, www.bryersfh.com

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