BERNICE VIOLA PINCH

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BERNICE VIOLA PINCH December 23, 2000, at 97 years, our beloved mother and grandmother left this world for the joy and reunion of the next. She leaves, to remember with love, her daughter, Irene (Thunder Bay, Ont.) son, Ken; daughter-in-law, Pat (Winnipeg) and beloved granddaughters in B.C., Linda and Karyn, their partners; and great-granddaughter, Anja; Keith Freeman and his family (Winnipeg) her brother Clifford Elder (Regina, Sask.), many nieces and nephews and very special family friend, Marcella Cavers (Winnipeg). "Bun" was predeceased by her parents Orma and Susie Elder; sisters, Frieda, Marguerite and Flossie; brothers, Everett, Harold and Donald; in 1969, her husband of 43 years, Hilliard (Till), and in 1980, her eight year old grandson, Christopher. Bernice was born October 25, 1903 in Cavour, South Dakota, third child of Orma and Susie Elder. When she was six, the family moved to a farm near Drinkwater, Sask. Her mother was far advanced in Womens Rights and insisted on the girls having a good education as well as the boys. Bernice lived with Susies sister, Emma Breuer, while attending William Chrisman High School in Independence, MO, graduating in 1924 with honours. Bernice and Till were married October 4, 1926 in Regina, Sask., moving to Winnipeg in 1928. Many of Irenes Grace Hospital nursing classmates remember, with fondness, the Pinch home as their home-away-from-home. Mother was a member of Greenwood United Church, moving into McClure Place Seniors residence at its opening in 1981. Her baking, dishwashing and caring for neighbours were always appreciated In 1997, Grandma visited Linda in Vancouver and Karyn in Whistler where she loved the peace and beauty of the mountains and nature and later spent many hours enjoying her photo albums from that trip. She moved to the Riverview Health Care Centre in February 1999 where she loved walking the halls, looking out the windows in all directions, giving progress reports on the development of the centre and its green space, and washing dishes after many events. Mother suffered a devastating fall December 3, breaking her pelvis, arm and wrist, immobilizing her, and from which she was unable to recover. In leafing through her Bible, we came across a very old bookmark bearing the signature of Bernice Elder and motto of The Girls Reserve by which mother lived. As A Girl Reserve I Will Be - Gracious in manner - Impartial in judgement - Ready for service - Loyal to friends - Reaching towards the best - Earnest in purpose - Seeing the beautiful - Eager for knowledge - Reverent to God - Victorious over self - ever dependable - Sincere at all times. A special thank you to Dr. Kathy Pickard, Tuxedo Medical Centre, to the Riverview staff and dishwashing partner Chaplain Larry Hirst, and to special Homecare Worker, Marion Dunn. Thanks, Granny P and Mom for your legacy. We will remember with love, your caring ways, your giving heart and your amazing quick wit. Cremation has taken place, a memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice, to Riverview Health Centre, 1 Morley Avenue, Winnipeg R3L 2P4 or to The Compassionate Friends of Canada, Box 141 RPO Corydon, Winnipeg R3M 3S7. NEIL BARDAL INC 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 30, 2000