Advertisement. Advertise with us

IN MEMORIAM: Bernice Strong, 85;

Raised 6 Children, Drove School Bus

MILFORD – Bernice E. Strong, 85, of Milford, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, May 23, 2017, at Bassett Hospital.

She was born Oct. 19, 1931, on Crumhorn Mountain in the Town of Maryland, the daughter of Lewis and Lillian (Wright) Virtell.

As her father was a tenant farmer, Bernice and her family lived in various places throughout Otsego County while she was growing up. In later years, her family fondly recalls that whenever they were out driving around Laurens, Mount Vision, Hartwick and Milford she would point to a house and say “we lived there!”

On July 19, 1952, Bernice married Arthur C. Strong in Pennsylvania, and they settled into their home in Milford.

From 1969 until 1993, Bernice worked for Milford Central School District as a school bus driver, and was well-liked by the many children she drove to and from school each day. Her true calling in life, though, was tending to and caring for her family.

A great cook she will be especially remembered for her pies.  An avid birdwatcher, she enjoyed watching cardinals and bluebirds (but hated the Blue Jays!)  and also enjoyed dancing, doing crossword puzzles, crocheting and knitting. She also bowled for many years.  Truly the matriarch of her family, she will be greatly missed.

Bernice is survived by her beloved husband of almost 65 years, Arthur C. Strong, of Milford; six children, Lewis Crawford of Rineyville, Kentucky, Evelyn Lacey and husband, William, of Vine Grove, Kentucky, Robert Strong and wife, Laurie of Milford, Vickie Konchar of Maryland, Michael Strong and wife, Sandy, of Milford, and Carla Strong of Maryland; 19 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; four sisters-in-law, Elna Virtell of New Berlin, Elizabeth Virtell of Milford,  Judy Virtell of New Jersey and Helen Southworth of Cooperstown; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her three brothers, Peter, Paul and James.

Calling hours are 4-6 p.m. Monday, May 29, at the  Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut St., Cooperstown.

A funeral service will be offered at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, at the funeral home, with Rev. Sylvia Barrett, pastor of the Milford and Portlandville United Methodist churches, officiating.  Burial will follow in Westville Cemetery.

As an alternative to flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Milford United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 127. Milford, NY 13807, or the Milford Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 359, Milford, NY  13807.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

Posted

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

Hometown People

Hometown People Milford’s Wynn Williams Wins New Speranzi Award…

SCOLINOS: It’s All We Need To Know: Home Plate 17 Inches Wide

COLUMN VIEW FROM THE GAME It’s All We Need To Know: Home Plate 17 Inches Wide Editor’s Note:  Tim Mead, incoming Baseball Hall of Fame president, cited John Scolinos, baseball coach at his alma mater, Cal Poly Pomona, as a lifelong inspiration, particularly Scolinos’ famous speech “17 Inches.” Chris Sperry, who published sperrybaseballlife.com, heard Scolinos deliver a version in 1996 at the American Baseball Coaches Association in Nashville, and wrote this reminiscence in 1916 in his “Baseball Thoughts” column. By CHRIS SPERRY • from www.sperrybaseballlife.com In 1996, Coach Scolinos was 78 years old and five years retired from a college coaching…

Piper Seamon Scores 1,000th point

1,000 THANKS! Piper Seamon 5th CCS Girl To Hit High Mark The Cooperstown Central student section erupts as Piper Seamon scores her 1,000th career point in the Hawkeyes’ 57-39 win over Waterville at home last evening. Seamon becomes the fifth girl and only the 14th player in school history overall to score 1,000 points.  Inset at right, Pipershares a hug with teammate Meagan Schuermann after the game was stopped to acknowledge her achievement. Seamon will play basketball next year at Hamilton College. (Cheryl Clough/AllOTSEGO.com)  …

Putting the Community Back Into the Newspaper

Now through March 30, new annual subscribers to “The Freeman’s Journal” and AllOtsego.com (or subscribers who have lapsed for two or more years) have an opportunity to help their choice of one of four Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice:

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, Cooperstown Food Pantry, Greater Oneonta Historical Society or Super Heroes Humane Society.