After a long and full life Bernice passed away quietly Monday morning, April 15, 2013 at her home with her family. Bernice was the eldest child of Ernest and Mary Pfanner. She was born in Davis, California on December 6th 1922.
She graduated from Davis High School and went on to graduate from the University of California Berkeley with an Associate Degree in Arts. She returned to Davis and worked at the University of California Davis in the agricultural department for the next 15 years.
In 1957, while attending a Kilbi (dance) in Schattdorf, Switzerland, Bernice would meet her future husband, Martin. After a year of corresponding with each other, Bernice and Martin became engaged and were married on November 21, 1959 at St. Francis Church in Sacramento, California.
They began their married life in a small apartment in Davis, but they soon moved to their first house on Maple Lane upon the birth of their first daughter, Michelle. Fifteen months later, came their second daughter, Elaine.
In 1964, Martin’s new job brought the young family to their new home in Sacramento. Bernice began working for the Department of Motor Vehicles where she would work until 1971. During the early years, Martin and Bernice would purchase a cabin in Lake Tahoe where they would host many parties for family and friends from Sacramento and Switzerland. Bernice would be cooking up a storm while Martin would be sharing the beautiful hiking trails around Lake Tahoe. They were able to enjoy 34 years of lovely Lake Tahoe vacation getaways.
Bernice belonged to the Swiss Ladies Society in Sacramento and enjoyed going to dances and listening to Swiss music. Bernice also loved to dance and Martin was one of those special husbands who also enjoyed dancing. Whether it was a Swiss dance or a social function with a dance floor, Bernice could be seen dancing the night away in her husband’s arms.
As the girls graduated and went off to college, Martin and Bernice were finally able to enjoy their empty nest. They soon began taking cruises (Caribbean, Alaskan, and Mexican ). They enjoyed going alone as a couple and with friends from the Mr. and Mrs. Club.
Hawaii became another destination Bernice and Martin kept returning to. Martin would go golfing and Bernice would enjoy the Hawaiian shops and beautiful flowers. Many years later, Martin and Bernice would purchase a Westin timeshare in Maui, and Bernice would get to share the joys of Hawaii with her granddaughter, Lauren.
On January 1, 1998 Bernice became a grandma; life was complete. Lauren was a greatly anticipated grandchild, and Grandma and Lauren enjoyed making many breakfasts together in the mornings in the kitchen. Lauren would stand on the stool cracking eggs into a bowl being supervised by Grandma. In 2008, Bernice had a series of strokes which curtailed Martin and Bernice’s trips and life became more simple.
The family was able to find a wonderful nurse/companion, Amelia “Pepe” Kenau, who would be with Bernice, making it possible for her to spend the rest of her life at home with her family. Martin became Bernice’s personal chef. Martin could be seen making Bernice’s favorite foods-pumpkin pie from scratch and milk rice with apricots. Life continued this way for almost five years until Bernice’s body finally gave up the fight. She quietly passed away with her family by her side.
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