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She was born March 1, 1934 in Alhambra, Illinois, the third and youngest daughter of the late Elmer and Renata (Lueker) Moritz.
She married Frank L. Pinkas on August 10, 1952 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Worden, Illinois. He preceded her in death on February 10, 2006 after 54 years of marriage.
In addition to her beloved husband she was preceded in death by her parents, Sisters Helen Moritz, in infancy and Loretta “Lori” Black of Texas, brother in law Richard Pinkas of Savannah, GA, grandson Brenden Pinkas of Edwardsville and great granddaughter Taylor Rogers of Edwardsville.
She is survived by and will be dearly missed by daughter Debra Dycus of Edwardsville and sons Scott Pinkas of Granite City, Steven Pinkas of Edwardsville and Brian Pinkas. Grandchildren Kevin (Meghan) Pinkas of Glen Carbon, Jodi Pinkas of Edwardsville, Kenneth Dycus of Hamel, Matthew (Natalie) Dycus of Bethalto and Victoria “Tori” Pinkas-Harned (Josh) of Granite City. Great grandchildren, Mason & Kennedy Ann Pinkas, Kirsten and Savannah Dycus, Dominic and Damien Dycus and Jaidyn and Jazdyn Miles.
Brother in law Louis (Becky) Pinkas of Edwardsville and sister in law Betty Pinkas of Savannah, Georgia. Nieces and nephews Pamela (Jerry) Ruckman of Texas, Greg (June) Black of Texas, Diane (Jim) Peters of Alhambra, Mike Pinkas of Edwardsville, Richard Pinkas and Wendy Pinkas Kline of Georgia. Great nieces, nephews, step- grandchildren, many cherished cousins and friends.
Bernice graduated from Edwardsville High School. She was a former President of the Madison County Legal Secretary Association, a founding member and former president of the St. Louis Chapter of the National Head Injury Foundation/The Center for Head Injury Services, in St. Louis (Missouri Bi-State Brain Injury Association). She wrote the original grant proposal to provide a brain injury program for a population without services after her son Steven was critically injured in a car accident resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). She later became an advocate alongside her daughter for families affected by Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma after her great granddaughter Taylor Nicole Rogers was shaken. She traveled with Debbie & Taylor to many National conferences, including two in Canada.
She loved her flowers, feeding birds and watching the feeders for hours, traveling to her favorite beach (Panama City Beach), spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and never missed a St. Louis Cardinals game if at all possible. She was also addicted to playing Solitaire online.
She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, receiving home visits and communion from Pastor John Shank and Pastor Jared DeBlieck.
In celebration of her life and in accordance to her wishes, Bernice will be cremated and a Memorial Service will be 1 pm on Saturday August 18, 2018 at Saksa Mateer Funeral Home in Edwardsville. Visitation will start at noon. Burial will take place at a later date at the Friederick Meyer family cemetery in Worden, Illinois.
The family expresses their thanks to the caring doctors and nurses at Anderson Hospital in ICU, IMU and Vitas Hospice for their care and guidance.
In lieu of floral tributes, memorials may be made to CHIS (Center for Head Injury Services), the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of her husband Frank, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention or a charity of your choice and will be accepted at the funeral home.
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Thomas Saksa Funeral Home 2205 Pontoon Rd Granite City IL 62040 618-876-4321
Saksa Mateer Funeral Home 210 N. Kansas Edwardsville IL 62025 618-656-7577
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