Obituary of Flora Bernice Pearson

PEARSON, Flora 'Bernice' (nee Wohler) - Passed away peacefully at home with family by her side on Friday May 12th, 2023 at the age of 92. Predeceased by her beloved husband John Pearson(1995). Loving mother of Mary-Ann Jolley (Rickey), Catherine Steel (Bruce), John Pearson, Eric Pearson (Delia) and Carl Pearson (Lynn). Cherished Grammy of Danielle, Nicole, Pauline, Jesse, Jason, Matthew, Briar, Neil, Ryan, and John. Dear Great-Grammy of Anthony, Sadtel, Patrick, Matthew, Dominic, Paisley, Penelope, Presley, and Riley. She will be dearly missed by her sister-in-law Doris Konst (Jack) and her brother-in-law Tom Thususka. Bernice is predeceased by her sisters Lillian Ballyk (Donald), Doreen Turnbull (Alvin) and Barbara. She will be dearly missed by her nieces, nephews, friends and extended family members. Bernice will be remembered for an unwavering devotion to her faith. After graduation from the St. Catharines Collegiate and a year at the local General Motors McKinnon’s plant, she considered a life of dedication to religious service at a convent in San Francisco. Through prayer and discernment, we are grateful she realized her calling could be best served through the love and support to her family and community. With husband, John, she was a founding member of St. Julia Catholic Church, and was also a member of the St. Catharines Diocesan Catholic Women’s League. She had a passion for music and, having been a member of the Mary Schmon Singers back in the late 1950’s, served as a member of the St. Julia Parish Church choir and bell ringers for decades. She returned to the workforce after raising her five (5) children, securing a position in the payroll and finance departments of the Regional Municipality of Niagara. She successfully completed many accounting courses through Brock University and McMaster, and applied same on the job, becoming a Capital Accountant for the Region prior to her retirement in 1995. Following retirement, she served on the St. Catharines Hotel Dieu Hospital Board of Trustees from 1995-6 until its closure, and was recognized for several years in (re)appointments as a Le Royer Patron of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph by the Hotel Dieu Hospital/Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre. Bernice and her sister, Lillian, were also very active in several fundraising campaigns for the Save the Children Organization. She became quite the world traveller, which included a trip to Rome in the Jubilee year (2000) for the beatification ceremony of an ancestral family member, Blessed Dom Columba Marmion. Most memorable, were her trips to visit her daughter, Catherine, in New Zealand and Australia. Lately, it was all about gatherings at the homestead, and it would be remiss not to mention the family’s appreciation for her eldest son, John, who became her primary caregiver in her final years. As per her wishes cremation has taken place. A Funeral Mass in Celebration of her Life will take place on Thursday May 18th at St.Julia Catholic Church at 10:30am with the Rite of Committal to follow at Lakeview Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Save the Children or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Online condolences at pjdartefh.ca