BERNICE LILIAN SIMPSON

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BERNICE LILIAN SIMPSON

Bernice, age 89, of Brandon, Manitoba, passed away on the Palliative Care Unit at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on Monday, November 20th, 2023.



Born January 9, 1934, Bernice was the youngest child of Arthur and Edith Burley of Brantford, Ontario.



After completing high school, Bernice enrolled in the three-year nurses’ training program at the Brantford General Hospital. She graduated as a Registered Nurse in June of 1955. She worked on the maternity ward at Brantford Hospital primarily in the newborn and premature nurseries for 19 years.



In March of 1974, she met her future husband, Ronald Simpson, of Brookdale, MB, when he was visiting relatives where she was boarding. They were married in the Brookdale United Church on November 9th, 1974. Bernice then became a farm wife and enjoyed square dancing in Neepawa with Ronald and was also involved with the Brookdale UCW, assisting with community events by providing homemade pies and other baked goods.



Bernice was well known for her love of cats and enjoyed many activities over the years, including trips to Montréal, London, and Brantford, to visit family and nursing friends. Bernice enjoyed keeping correspondence with her nursing colleagues and some of the mothers that she cared for, one of them being Phyllis Gretzky, mother of Wayne Gretzky. Her children often joked with her that this was her “claim to fame”. Bernice and Ronald attended many nursing reunions in Brantford.



Ronald retired from active farming in 1994 and they continued to live on the farm until 2008 when they moved to Monterey Estates in Brandon.



Bernice was predeceased by her parents, brother Robert (Norma) and brother-in-law Reginald Jones.



She leaves to mourn, her son Charles (Connie), daughters Sharon (James) and Irene; five grandchildren, Karen, Emily, Shamus, Cameron, and Matthew; four great-grandchildren; sister Beverley Rath of London, ON and her four daughters Lark, Holly, Robin and Carla, and their extended families; nephew Arthur, nieces, Anne and Brenda (children of her late brother Robert), and their extended families; sister-in-law Grace Jones and her four children; Bruce (Trudy), Ronald (Jacquie), Susan (Bruce), and Kathleen (Gene), and their extended families.



A funeral service was held Tuesday, November 28th at Memories Chapel in Brandon, MB, with Rev. Craig Miller officiating. Interment followed at Neepawa Cemetery where she was laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Ronald. Pallbearers were Ronald Jones, Reese Jones, Bruce Wiebe, Shamus Menzies, Andrew MacKay, and TJ Graham.



Donations in memory of Bernice may be made to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, Palliative Care, 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, MB R7A 2B3 or the Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7.

Condolences: www.memorieschapel.com

As published in Brandon Sun on Jan 13, 2024, Jan 13, 2024