Ethel Bernard

Ethel Marie Bernard of Oldsmar, FL, died peacefully in her sleep on May 19, 2014, at age 105. Marie was born at the lighthouse on Round Island, MI, where her father was a keeper of the light. Her childhood was spent living on the Great Lakes near the Canadian border as her father’s duty stations changed over time. Marie had a lifelong love of the lakes and her lighthouse heritage. Christian faith was the cornerstone of Marie’s life. She believed that her mother, who was raised in a convent, planted the seeds of faith in her heart at a very early age. At the Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka, and later at Espiritu Santo Parish in Safety Harbor, FL, Marie participated in prayer groups and assisted with funeral dinners, clothing drives, and visiting the sick and homebound. Besides her faith and love of family, Marie’s passion was gardening. She looked forward each year to carefully planning her garden and the result was always a bounty of flowers, fruits and vegetables. During her years spent living near North Carolina family, Marie proved that a thriving garden could be achieved even in the most unforgiving clay soil. She loved to tell the story of how she had planted a tree in every place that she had lived. Marie was also a wonderful cook and an avid reader until her eyesight began to fail in later years. Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Gene W. “Jim” Bernard; her parents, John Gramer and Mary LaBell Gramer; sisters, Eva Gramer, Ruth Gramer and Leona Palmer; daughter, Joan Taylor Munger; and son, G. Steven Bernard. She is survived by a son, Dr. William G. Taylor; daughter-in-law, Shirley Bernard; grandchildren, Suzanne Ringwood, Mary Taylor, Steven Taylor, Katy Munger, David Munger, Steven Bernard, Sabrina Bernard, Stuart Bernard and Bridget Munger; great-grandchildren, Jon Paul Bernard, Samuel Shipley, Samuel Jeffers, John Ringwood, Julia Taylor, Andrew Ringwood, Katherine Ringwood, Chrissy Taylor, Rachel Taylor and Zuzu Feller; and great-great-grandsons, Caden Bernard and Samuel Shipley, Jr. A funeral Mass was held on May 24 at Espiritu Santo Catholic Church in Safety Harbor, FL. A graveside service is planned for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 801 SW Westchester Rd. in Topeka. Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to St. Labre Indian School, 1000 Tongue River Rd, Ashland, MT, 59003 or Catholic Charities USA, 2050 Ballenger Ave, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314.