I loved Bernice. She was more of a mother to me than my own mother. Bernie listened, really listened to you, you didn't have to repeat or explain anything, she understood and remembered everything you’d told her in past conversations, and her comments were kind, helpful and loving. Even if I didn't need any advice, she would just listen and was very loving to me. Her birthday was February 25 and mine was February 24 so we had that immediate kinship there. We would go out to dinner (a lot of times at Ricci’s in Meadville) and go shopping, and always had a fun time. We lived across from each other for a couple years at the Golf View Apts in Meadville, and she'd bake for me, and I'd cook meals for her. She was funny and had a lot of interesting stories to tell about her childhood, her life, her family, the family bakery she helped run for many years. She was independent and lively and I loved her very much. When I had to leave Meadville (to Nevada for a job), it was unbearably heartbreaking for both of us, although we did talk on the phone quite a lot.
She came to visit me in Florida when I first moved to Tampa, and we got lost looking for a Spaghetti Warehouse and ended up having a good time at an Indian restaurant, go figure! And, later on, when she came to Flagler Beach, Florida for her brother’s funeral, she asked me to come over and be with her, which I was glad to do, she (and the whole family) made me feel like I was her own daughter (which probably irritated her actual daughter, I believe, but that's a whole 'nother story). When I got married, she and I started making plans for her to come live with me in Tampa, but she became ill, and I desperately tried to get to her quickly, but she passed before I could get there to be with her. I planned to at least then go to her funeral, but her daughter was very angry/jealous with me and told me I wasn't wanted there either. I think of Bernie so much, and I miss her very much. I never had a happy mother/daughter relationship with my own mother and Bernie was the heart and soul of a wonderful, beautiful, bright and funny woman. Whenever we would talk, Bernie had this cute response to things I was telling her about - she'd say "Right!" (rolling her RRR’s!), I can just hear it now to this day. I love her and miss her every day. I am sure she's sitting in Heaven and saying "RRRRight" to God this very minute! Rest in Peace, my dear mother. Love, Marilyn Heiges
She came to visit me in Florida when I first moved to Tampa, and we got lost looking for a Spaghetti Warehouse and ended up having a good time at an Indian restaurant, go figure! And, later on, when she came to Flagler Beach, Florida for her brother’s funeral, she asked me to come over and be with her, which I was glad to do, she (and the whole family) made me feel like I was her own daughter (which probably irritated her actual daughter, I believe, but that's a whole 'nother story). When I got married, she and I started making plans for her to come live with me in Tampa, but she became ill, and I desperately tried to get to her quickly, but she passed before I could get there to be with her. I planned to at least then go to her funeral, but her daughter was very angry/jealous with me and told me I wasn't wanted there either. I think of Bernie so much, and I miss her very much. I never had a happy mother/daughter relationship with my own mother and Bernie was the heart and soul of a wonderful, beautiful, bright and funny woman. Whenever we would talk, Bernie had this cute response to things I was telling her about - she'd say "Right!" (rolling her RRR’s!), I can just hear it now to this day. I love her and miss her every day. I am sure she's sitting in Heaven and saying "RRRRight" to God this very minute! Rest in Peace, my dear mother. Love, Marilyn Heiges
