Bernice Gelzer

Bernice “Bebe” Gelzer was born in 1932 in Brooklyn, NY to Morris and Fanny Kradel. She passed away, late Thursday night, Nov. 7, 2024 at her home at Morse Life Independent Living in West Palm Beach, Fl. -- although not before having a delightful day playing bingo, enjoying art class, and trouncing the competition at gin rummy.

The baby of six siblings, Bernice was doted upon and cherished, learning to rule her world with a captivating mix of calculated charm, quick quips, and fierce determination.

Bernice was the first in her family to go to college, attending City College of New York. There, she earned the titles of Phi Beta Kappa and Homecoming Queen, a degree in education and met her future husband, Neal Deoul. They were married in 1955.

Bernice started her career teaching, including typing and shorthand. The couple had three children, first Cara, then Stefani, followed by Evan. Armed with a master’s degree, a growing family, and a house on Long Island, Bernice applied her knowledge at home, becoming equal parts independent artist – with magnificent creations of beaded flowers, butterfly boxes, and woven tapestries - and entrepreneur, as she marketed and sold her beautiful creations.

And lest you make the mistake of thinking she might not be paying attention, her children will be quick to laugh and recall the, multiple, times a day she asked,“do you have any homework?” Or maybe better yet, they can regale you with the “Bernice eyebrow,” a gravity defying arch that could freeze any one of her children right in their tracks.

Her superpower? Living in two places at the same time. Bernice was always miles ahead of her time, but never more than minutes away from her family. No one made a better chocolate cake. No one made a better coffee cake. And no one made better matzoh ball soup. And that’s because no one made them with more love.

Following her divorce in the early 1970s, Bernice remained on Long Island, raising her teenagers. In addition, she and a friend, started a singles group called Alternatives, hosting game nights and social events for people wanting to meet people in venues outside of bars.

With her faith very important to Bernice, it was a mitzvah that she met her second husband, Arnold Gelzer, at the Westbury Hebrew Congregation on Long Island.

She stayed on Long Island until her grandchildren started arriving, when she moved to Princeton, NJ to “assist” with raising the next generation. Grammy could always be counted upon to attend school plays, swim meets, and lacrosse competitions – while continually baking her signature cakes and producing stunning works of art with her loom.

Following the death of her husband, Arnold, the Queen slowly retired from her more public life. And if her memory might have started skipping a beat, her punch lines were always at the ready. “Mom, you look great today,” was followed by, “get your eyes checked!” “Mom, need anything from the store?” “A stack of fifties!”

Bernice was quietly fearless, tough, and she loved who she loved with unwavering devotion. Her circle of love was for her family, and her family loved her for it. She is survived by Cara and David Perl, Stefani Deoul and Nancy Prescott, Evan and Joan Deoul. Andie and Matt Liebross, Jake, Sean and Hudson Fagan-Perl, Hannah, Mike, Bowie and Indie Ford, Madeleine, Colin and Penelope Flaherty, Lori, Mark, Josh and Eric Polefka, Sheri Oshins, Madison Oshins, Emily and Bobby Esposito, Shannon Deoul, and Rosa and Miguel Garcia. She is also survived by her brother Arnold, sister-in-law Bobbee, and cousin Blanche.

Services will be private, but Shiva will be at the home of Evan and Joan Deoul, 208 Via Quantera, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418, Sunday 3-7 pm, Monday 2-7 pm. The family requests that those wanting to donate in Bernice’s memory, join us in mentoring a young, independent woman at philanthropytank.org, where we hope our Mom’s legacy will find and support a spirited match. Please comment “in Honor of Bernice Gelzer” in the note section.