Born in Toledo, Ohio, on November 13, 1928, to Jozef and Helen Roginski, Bernice was the youngest of six children. Her father passed away when she was just five years old, so she was raised by her mother with the help of her older siblings in challenging circumstances during the Great Depression. She attended Nativity Catholic School in Toledo, Ohio, and then graduated from Libbey High School in 1946. Bernice then went on to work as a secretary for many years at Kaiser Jeep in Toledo.
She met and married the love of her life, Frank J. Circelli, in 1959. They moved from Ohio to Miami, Florida, and raised their blended family there and in Hollywood, Florida, for 30 years until Frank's death. Bernice made the move to Dallas in 1995 to be closer to her daughter's family. She loved living in Texas and her adopted hometown of Dallas; she quickly came to love everything about it, including its phenomenal shopping (one of her favorite pastimes) and frozen swirl margaritas. What mattered most to Bernice, however, was her family. She was known as "Grandma B", not only by her own grandchildren, but by an extended family of her grandchildrens' friends, parents and neighbors. She was also fondly referred to as "Grandma Hollywood", a reference to her former hometown of Hollywood, Florida, as well as her dazzling looks and ability to light up a room when she entered. Bernice had a joyful presence and a knack for making everyone she encountered feel special.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings; brothers Walter, Kazmir, and Wallace Roginski, and sisters Isabelle Bialecki and Irene Pohlman. She is survived by sons Frank M. Circelli and Anthony Jutkowski, as well as daughters Terri Payak and her husband John, and Victoria Ward and her husband John; grandchildren Kristin Cross and her husband Rob, Christopher Sobb and his wife Carie, Alexander Ward, Ellen Ward, Laurena Circelli, Megan Circelli, and Daniel Jutkowski; great-grandchildren Michael, Georgia and Oliver Cross, and Molly Jutkowski.
Bernice's faith was very important to her. She was a lifelong Catholic and longtime parishioner at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas. Bernice had been diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's several years ago and although her cognitive abilities had declined greatly, the sparkle in her eyes remained as bright as ever. She still loved visiting with family, laughing and praying. The family wishes to thank Susan and all the wonderful staff at Guardian Angels Group Home in Richardson, Texas, as well as the staff at The Reserve at North Dallas. While at The Reserve, Bernice had two incredible women come into her life following her Alzheimer's diagnosis; caregivers Yvonne Lewis and Quilla Davis.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the St. Rita Catholic School Endowment Fund at strita.net or to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org. Funeral Mass will take place Friday, November 5th, at 12:00pm at St. Rita Catholic Church, 12521 Inwood Rd., Dallas. Burial to follow at a later date at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Circelli family.
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