Bernice A. Anderson, 93, passed away on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 in New Jersey, with her daughters Lindsay, Chris and son-in-law, Michael at her bedside. Bernice was born in Sister Bay, WI to Edith and Emil Becker on July 23, 1925. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert (Bob) C. Anderson on August 24, 1946 and was married 63 years when Bob passed away in 2009.
They resided in Aurora, Illinois until retirement brought them back to Sturgeon Bay in 1997. Throughout her life, Bernice enjoyed filling her home with the many “treasures” she found in junk stores and the garage sales she loved to go to. It pleased her the most to find a piece of furniture, buried under piles of junk, coated with paint and pay “next to nothing” for it.
Transforming the piece into a beautiful showroom quality piece of furniture was her specialty and the piece either found a place in her home or her daughters. She was so helpful to her daughters, always ready to work on projects to improve their homes and gardens. In later years, walking became more difficult due to medical issues, so the physical helping decreased but the ideas and suggestions kept on coming.
Bernice lived in her home until it was too challenging. She then moved to her daughter Chris’ home and then to her daughter Lindsay’s home until her death. Bernice began her early working years as a beautician.
When she married Bob she settled in as a mother and home maker. Later years, she worked in a department store as a clerk. She enjoyed swimming and boating.
From kayaks to sailing on the Edith M. Becker sailing schooner, which bears her mother’s name, she loved it all. Bernice is survived by her daughters Lindsay (Michael) Petrillo, Bayville, NJ; Chris Anderson, Jacksonport; special friend, Jane Nelson, Jacksonport; her nieces Carol Bockhop, Sturgeon Bay and Gretchen (Tom) Stephani, Crystal Lake, Il and nephew Bob (Delores) Nelson, Sturgeon Bay. Also a special nephew, Bob Heiden and his wife May.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, sisters Caroline Nelson and Genevieve Anderson, nephew Jerry (Pat) Nelson and infant grandson Robert Michael Petrillo. A memorial service to celebrate Bernice’s life will be held on Monday, December 3, 2018 at Bay View Lutheran Church, Sturgeon Bay, WI. Friends and family can gather at the church after 10:00 a.m. with service to begin at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will be held after the service.
Burial will be held for Bernice in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bay View Lutheran Church. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Bernice may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.
huehnsfuneralhome.com.
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