Dana Marelyn Bernstein

December 15 1945 - December 19, 2025

Dana Bernstein died in hospital, with her sister Lisa by her side, four days after her eightieth birthday. Dana’s close friends were able to visit with her in person and by telephone in the few days before her death.

Born in Montreal, Canada to Victor and Delle Gellert and brought up in Vancouver, Dana attended Lord Byng High School. Both beautiful and brilliant, Dana began a career as a fashion model and then shifted to advertising. She was a trailblazer as a female advertising executive at a time when women were usually confined to the secretarial pool. She was a creative director and account director of international agencies located in Toronto, specializing in large retail accounts. Moving to California in the 1980’s she co-founded an advertising agency with her husband, Jerry Bernstein.They settled in an amazingly close-knit community in Woodland Hills, California where neighbours took good care of neighbours. Dana lived there for 38 years, forming close and supportive friendships with those on her street.

 A passionate animal lover, Dana referred to her pets as her kids. Dana’s father gave her Socks, the cat, when she was four years old and ever since, she has always had at least one pet in her home and her heart. Throughout her life she was active in many animal rights organizations: Peta, Farm Sanctuary and Wildlife Federation to name a few. 

Dana was preceded in death by her husband Jerry in 2009. She is survived by her sister Lisa, her cousin Kathy and extended family, her closest friends, Michel, Paulette, Lynn G, and her warmhearted neighbours, Phyllis, Lynn, Maggie and Ed.

Dana will be remembered for her sense of humour and curiosity, her creative mind, her kindness to others and her courageous independent spirit. She died as she lived - on her own terms. 

In Dana’s memory donations can be made to Animal Rights organizations or Charities.