Bernice was pre-deceased by Ward, who passed on December 16, 2021. Surviving family are her children, Ward Jr. (Allison), Brad (Caryn), Susan Turner (Andy), and Christine Scerbo (Joe, deceased); her grandchildren, Laura, Thomas, Jessica, Robbie (deceased), William, Joseph, Ben, Gillian, and Holly; her brother, Raymond and sister, Nancy.

Bernice graduated from Katherine Gibbs School and initially focused on raising her family. She later resumed her career in various office administration roles and settled into a position administering life insurance programs for a company in Short Hills, from which she retired.

She joined the Livingston Symphony Orchestra in the 1960s as a violinist and joined their Board of Trustees in 1983 as their Treasurer; she continued in both roles until in her late 70s. Both she and Ward served many years as Trustees for the Friends of the Shakers at Sabbath Day Lake, Maine and together enjoyed rustic and somewhat unorthodox traveling such as sailing Windjammers out of Maine, self-guided trips through England, Italy, Switzerland, and snowmobiling across a glacier in Iceland, as well as hands-on experiences such as building a stone wall and learning to blacksmith. They treasured their time spent with family at their summer house at the Jersey shore, and while at home in Livingston, they spent countless hours in their vegetable garden which brought them much enjoyment and compliments.

While we are sad that she has passed, we fully expect Bernice is now celebrating the reunion with Ward, her true love and soulmate.