Arlene Smith Bernhard

Arlene Smith Bernhard, 66, of Allentown, died Friday, June 24, 2022, at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest, Allentown. She was the loving wife of Donald M. Bernhard. Born May 28, 1956, in San Mateo, CA to the late Hal and Renee Smith, she was raised in Emmaus and was a proud resident of Allentown.

Arlene made a difference for the children of the Allentown School District for over thirty years. She began this work as a volunteer at Muhlenberg Elementary, then served as a school secretary at Roosevelt, and most recently in special education administration. She was known in her office as “The

Queen of Busing” for the complex work she did to ensure students with disabilities had a means to get to the school that would best serve their needs.

She always had a quick wit and an incredible memory, not just for the details of her work, but for show business trivia. That knowledge was rooted in the fact that dance was a theme running through her life—¬ from her mother who ran Renee's School of Dance from her childhood home in Emmaus, to raising a daughter who went on to minor in dance at Princeton. Arlene also loved to travel, particularly to

Hilton Head Island, SC, where she spent a few weeks every year. Even more than traveling, she loved Maine Coon cats and always had at least one.

She is survived by her husband, Donald M. Bernhard; son, Spencer Bernhard and his husband Steven Fuller of Allentown; daughter, Tess Bernhard and her fiancé Nathan Soffio Jr. of Philadelphia. Also survived by her brother, Patrick Smith and his wife Judi Smith. Arlene was close to Judi's extended family.

Services: 11:00 AM, Friday, July 1st at Trexler Funeral Home, 1625 Highland St., Allentown. Friends and family are invited to call from 10:0011:00 AM at the funeral home. Interment to

follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Allentown. Memorial contributions can be made to the Allentown School District Foundation at https://asdf.allentownsd.org/donations

Condolences in her memory may be left at www.trexlerfuneralhome.com Please sign Guest Book on www.themorningcall.com/obits