Born in Palatine, Illinois to Walter and May Clark, Bernice was an only child. She "hated" school, despite being very bright, and loved most spending time with her beloved Grandfather, Adolph Farley.
During the war years Bernice worked at Walgreen's and later at Elgin Watch Factory in Elgin, Illinois. In 1946 she gave birth to a son, Thomas Walter (Clark). It has never been established who Tom's father was. (It was a complete secret that Bernice maintained her entire life). Later she married Cecil Bergin and had a daughter, Patti (Celeste). Bernice, Cecil, Thomas and Patti lived in Florida as a family, but not for long. The marriage was brief and they were divorced. Bernice then returned with her children to Illinois and went about being a single parent back in the days when it was practically unheard of. She never remarried and she never received alimony or support payments. She also never made an issue of it.
In order to raise her children Bernice worked many years at Howell's factory in Aurora, Illinois, making upholstered chair seats and backs. It was mind-numbing work and finally In the late 1960's she studied hard and became a Real Estate Agent. She was proud of this accomplishment. She carried her Real Estate Identification in her wallet until the end.
Bernice had a tough life in many ways, but before she died she said she had few regrets and what she was proudest of was her children. Despite all the many hardships and the tough road she traveled she remained fiercely independent, really quite sure of herself and she added..."I'm sure glad I had you kids".
She had a sense of humor and timing that rivaled any professional comedian. She remained all of her life mentally extremely sharp. She had everyone's phone number stored in her head, because she could not see due to macular degeneration. It was frustrating to her if people ever spoke to her in a condescending tone because of her older appearance. She felt stereotyped sometimes, and fought it tooth and nail.
Among her meager possessions was a corny plastic rooster clock that crows on the hour. Now it is a most prized possession, crowing its funny squawky crow, it reminds me so much of the wonderful woman who owned it, the tender-bold-scrappy-gentle woman who sacrificed everything to raise us alone.
Son Thomas Bergin preceded her in death in 1996. Survived by her daughter, Patti Celeste Bergin, 4 grandchildren (Thomas Jr., Sharon, Vicki and Susan) and 5 great grandchildren
THANK YOU so much for leaving tokens and notes on my Mother's page. It means a lot to me..I know that she would love that people who never met her can show such kindness!
During the war years Bernice worked at Walgreen's and later at Elgin Watch Factory in Elgin, Illinois. In 1946 she gave birth to a son, Thomas Walter (Clark). It has never been established who Tom's father was. (It was a complete secret that Bernice maintained her entire life). Later she married Cecil Bergin and had a daughter, Patti (Celeste). Bernice, Cecil, Thomas and Patti lived in Florida as a family, but not for long. The marriage was brief and they were divorced. Bernice then returned with her children to Illinois and went about being a single parent back in the days when it was practically unheard of. She never remarried and she never received alimony or support payments. She also never made an issue of it.
In order to raise her children Bernice worked many years at Howell's factory in Aurora, Illinois, making upholstered chair seats and backs. It was mind-numbing work and finally In the late 1960's she studied hard and became a Real Estate Agent. She was proud of this accomplishment. She carried her Real Estate Identification in her wallet until the end.
Bernice had a tough life in many ways, but before she died she said she had few regrets and what she was proudest of was her children. Despite all the many hardships and the tough road she traveled she remained fiercely independent, really quite sure of herself and she added..."I'm sure glad I had you kids".
She had a sense of humor and timing that rivaled any professional comedian. She remained all of her life mentally extremely sharp. She had everyone's phone number stored in her head, because she could not see due to macular degeneration. It was frustrating to her if people ever spoke to her in a condescending tone because of her older appearance. She felt stereotyped sometimes, and fought it tooth and nail.
Among her meager possessions was a corny plastic rooster clock that crows on the hour. Now it is a most prized possession, crowing its funny squawky crow, it reminds me so much of the wonderful woman who owned it, the tender-bold-scrappy-gentle woman who sacrificed everything to raise us alone.
Son Thomas Bergin preceded her in death in 1996. Survived by her daughter, Patti Celeste Bergin, 4 grandchildren (Thomas Jr., Sharon, Vicki and Susan) and 5 great grandchildren
THANK YOU so much for leaving tokens and notes on my Mother's page. It means a lot to me..I know that she would love that people who never met her can show such kindness!
Born in Palatine, Illinois to Walter and May Clark, Bernice was an only child. She "hated" school, despite being very bright, and loved most spending time with her beloved Grandfather, Adolph Farley.
During the war years Bernice worked at Walgreen's and later at Elgin Watch Factory in Elgin, Illinois. In 1946 she gave birth to a son, Thomas Walter (Clark). It has never been established who Tom's father was. (It was a complete secret that Bernice maintained her entire life). Later she married Cecil Bergin and had a daughter, Patti (Celeste). Bernice, Cecil, Thomas and Patti lived in Florida as a family, but not for long. The marriage was brief and they were divorced. Bernice then returned with her children to Illinois and went about being a single parent back in the days when it was practically unheard of. She never remarried and she never received alimony or support payments. She also never made an issue of it.
In order to raise her children Bernice worked many years at Howell's factory in Aurora, Illinois, making upholstered chair seats and backs. It was mind-numbing work and finally In the late 1960's she studied hard and became a Real Estate Agent. She was proud of this accomplishment. She carried her Real Estate Identification in her wallet until the end.
Bernice had a tough life in many ways, but before she died she said she had few regrets and what she was proudest of was her children. Despite all the many hardships and the tough road she traveled she remained fiercely independent, really quite sure of herself and she added..."I'm sure glad I had you kids".
She had a sense of humor and timing that rivaled any professional comedian. She remained all of her life mentally extremely sharp. She had everyone's phone number stored in her head, because she could not see due to macular degeneration. It was frustrating to her if people ever spoke to her in a condescending tone because of her older appearance. She felt stereotyped sometimes, and fought it tooth and nail.
Among her meager possessions was a corny plastic rooster clock that crows on the hour. Now it is a most prized possession, crowing its funny squawky crow, it reminds me so much of the wonderful woman who owned it, the tender-bold-scrappy-gentle woman who sacrificed everything to raise us alone.
Son Thomas Bergin preceded her in death in 1996. Survived by her daughter, Patti Celeste Bergin, 4 grandchildren (Thomas Jr., Sharon, Vicki and Susan) and 5 great grandchildren
THANK YOU so much for leaving tokens and notes on my Mother's page. It means a lot to me..I know that she would love that people who never met her can show such kindness!
During the war years Bernice worked at Walgreen's and later at Elgin Watch Factory in Elgin, Illinois. In 1946 she gave birth to a son, Thomas Walter (Clark). It has never been established who Tom's father was. (It was a complete secret that Bernice maintained her entire life). Later she married Cecil Bergin and had a daughter, Patti (Celeste). Bernice, Cecil, Thomas and Patti lived in Florida as a family, but not for long. The marriage was brief and they were divorced. Bernice then returned with her children to Illinois and went about being a single parent back in the days when it was practically unheard of. She never remarried and she never received alimony or support payments. She also never made an issue of it.
In order to raise her children Bernice worked many years at Howell's factory in Aurora, Illinois, making upholstered chair seats and backs. It was mind-numbing work and finally In the late 1960's she studied hard and became a Real Estate Agent. She was proud of this accomplishment. She carried her Real Estate Identification in her wallet until the end.
Bernice had a tough life in many ways, but before she died she said she had few regrets and what she was proudest of was her children. Despite all the many hardships and the tough road she traveled she remained fiercely independent, really quite sure of herself and she added..."I'm sure glad I had you kids".
She had a sense of humor and timing that rivaled any professional comedian. She remained all of her life mentally extremely sharp. She had everyone's phone number stored in her head, because she could not see due to macular degeneration. It was frustrating to her if people ever spoke to her in a condescending tone because of her older appearance. She felt stereotyped sometimes, and fought it tooth and nail.
Among her meager possessions was a corny plastic rooster clock that crows on the hour. Now it is a most prized possession, crowing its funny squawky crow, it reminds me so much of the wonderful woman who owned it, the tender-bold-scrappy-gentle woman who sacrificed everything to raise us alone.
Son Thomas Bergin preceded her in death in 1996. Survived by her daughter, Patti Celeste Bergin, 4 grandchildren (Thomas Jr., Sharon, Vicki and Susan) and 5 great grandchildren
THANK YOU so much for leaving tokens and notes on my Mother's page. It means a lot to me..I know that she would love that people who never met her can show such kindness!
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