Berna Kathleen Fleming Lewis Obituary (1917

Her life was greatly impacted by the depression and an opportunity came to work as a nanny to help the family. She loved caring for the children but the situation took her far from home to NYC. There she attended 11th grade. She had a chance to explore the city and made a few good friends. In NYC she manifested characteristics of flexibility and a willingness to try new things which she continued throughout her life. After she returned to Pepin and finished high school she moved to Madison to attend the UW nursing program. She enjoyed dorm life and as a student she worked many hours in the hospital. While there she started dating George Lewis, also from Pepin, who was an engineering student. After her graduation they married, bought a fixer house and started a family. As a result of her generous and giving nature they had a house full with extended family. Always community minded she cared for neighbors using her nursing skills. She loved to socialize and had a group of friends that met regularly at each other homes for coffee. Very active in the Methodist Church she loved singing in the choir, participating in Women's Circle and teaching Sunday school. She was such a trooper that she adeptly packed up the grub box, prepared the camper and on weekends went off with the family camping. Our frequent trips to Devil's Lake allowed swimming, hiking and socializing with fellow campers. In later year George and Berna often camped and fished at Rainey Lake in Ontario. Berna was happiest when joined by friends and family on their fishing adventures. When it came time for her kids to go to college the family moved to the university side of town and by then she was again working as a nurse at the University Hospital. When it came time to retire George and Berna decided to resettle in North Carolina close to son, Mark. On 5 acres she enjoyed the out of doors, made fast friends with neighbors. Again she was very active both in the Bethel Methodist Church singing as a singer in the choir and the Homemakers Group with the County Extension. She loved her friends and always celebrated her children's birthdays, holidays and anniversaries. In Midland she also helped in a second grade tutoring students. Last week a card came from the teacher who loved having her light spirit in the classroom working with the children. The pattern of retirement was to be in Midland for the winter but each summer to go on long trips visiting her children and grandchildren who were scattered across the U.S. During these years their trips often included their siblings. After George died in 2005 she lived alone, which was a new experience for her until she wanted more company. She moved to Seattle and settled in easily to an apartment in her daughter Jill's new home. Here in Seattle she found Saint Clemons and loved the warm welcome of that community. She also regularly went to the Central Area Senior Center where she found a friends group to lunch with, classes to challenge her intellect, memoirs class, a few childrens classes for her to assist in and a musical group where she learned to play her ukulele. She also joined a group going to theater, taking class at the art museum and other social activities. Berna died October 18, 2012 at 95 years of age. She was preceded by her husband George Lewis after 65 years of marriage. Berna is survived by her sister Donna Mugridge (John), brother Shirley Fleming, brother-in-law Richard Lewis, her children Loren Lewis (Sylvia Muth), Joan Lossing (Jim), Mark Lewis (Marcia), Jill Lewis, Gregg Lewis (Nita), 9 grandchildren and 5 great- grandchildren. She asked us to tell you "Please celebrate my life not my death; I have been very lucky. I love all my family members and my dear friends." Services for Berna Lewis will be held on Wednesday October 24, 2012, 2pm at St Clemons Church, 1501 32nd Ave S, Seattle 98144. Those wishing to remember Berna with a donation may contribute to the St Clemons Episcopal Church, 1501 32nd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144 or the Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Ave S, Seattle 98144. Arrangements entrusted to Columbia Funeral Home.