E. B. Weitzel, Bernece

Bernece Eunice Bradshaw Weitzel of 3116 Van Dorns Corners Road passed away at Cayuga Medical Center on July 14, 2006. She was born June 27, 1917 in Magrath, Alberta, Canada. She spent her youth growing up in Lehi, Utah and proudly became a citizen of the United States on Feb. 28, 1961. She was the daughter of Bernard Briggs Bradshaw and Ingaborg Loda Harris.

Bernece graduated from Lehi High School (Utah) and received a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Drama from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1941. In 1947 she completed an A.B.L.S at Michigan University and met her future husband William T. Weitzel. They were married January 30, 1948 in Washington, D.C., joined together for more than 58 years. Bernece received her permanent Certification as a School Librarian from the State of New York, in 1962. She worked for nearly 20 years as high school librarian for the Trumansburg School District (Charles O. Dickerson High School) retiring in 1976. Prior to her marriage she worked for school districts in Utah and Towson College in Maryland.

Bernece was an active volunteer in the community and in her church; she was a life long member of the LDS church. After moving to the area she joined the Ithaca branch and transferred to the Trumansburg branch after it was organized in 1979. She served in many capacities, including home teacher, President of Relief Society and Branch Librarian. Bernece was a member of the Trumansburg Area Council of Churches and faithfully volunteered at the Food Pantry. She was also a member of the Tompkins County Senior Citizens Council and the N. Y. State Retired Teachers Association, Inc.

Bernece volunteered at the Dewitt Historical Society and the Ulysses Historical Society. She worked for many years in retirement to compile an index for Trumansburg area newspapers from 1827 to 1940 - an indispensable guide to local history and of great value to those who are interested in genealogical research. Genealogy was her passion and her hobby and she was a dedicated researcher of her own family history. She taught a genealogy class through the Trumansburg Community Ed Program. She also loved to sew and to travel. She and Bill journeyed to Utah and throughout the West every four years to see her family. They had many fond memories of a trip they took together to England and several trips she made with her sisters and friends to France, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Italy.

Bernece was pre-deceased by her husband Bill in January 2006, sister NaDene and brother Mark. She is survived by siblings Harris, Warren and Joyce and her four children Martha (Robert) Hickey, grandchildren Devin and Gillian of Portland OR, June (William) Szabo and grandchildren Erin and Luke of Ithaca, NY, David (Kayle) Weitzel, Bryan (Jane) Weitzel of Longmont CO, grandchildren Trystan and Derek.

The family will be present to receive friends and family on Monday, July 17th from 6-8 pm at the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South St., Trumansburg. Services will be held on Tuesday, July 18th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints at 1pm. Prayers of Committal will follow at Grove Cemetery. A reception at the church will follow burial.

Those who wish to make a contribution in Bernece memory, the family asks the donor to consider: The Ulysses Historical Society PO Box 455, Trumansburg, NY 14886, Hospicare of Tompkins County, 172 E. King Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850, The Ulysses Philomathic Library, Trumansburg, New York 14886 or the charity of your choice.

For additional information, please contact the funeral home at 1-888-534-5446.

Page Submitted By: Joseph L. Sibley, Director