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Bernice Velma Burd, 100, departed to her Heavenly Home from Marietta Heights, Marietta, Ohio, on Feb. 20, 2025, following a brief illness.
Bernice was born in Cairo, West Virginia, on Aug. 31, 1924, the daughter of the late Charles Wesley Shahan and Maude Pearl Dulaney Shahan. Her family moved to Parkersburg when she was a young girl and settled in Little Hocking in 1936. Bernice attended Little Hocking Elementary School and Belpre High School.
Bernice married William Edward Burd on March 15, 1943, and enjoyed 41 years of marriage before his death in 1984. Bernice was a wonderful, caring and loving mother who raised four children: Larry, Judy, Charlie, and Kay and stepdaughter Edna Lou Burd.
Bernice worked at Doe Miller & Son Produce, the Red Barn Produce Market, and the Homestyle Sandwich Shop in Belpre. Bernice was a wonderful mother, wife, and friend who never met a stranger. She enjoyed baking and cooking and was especially known for her homemade cinnamon rolls, bread, and pies of all types; her baked steak and mashed potato dinners were always a family favorite.
Bernice liked to crochet, knit, work jigsaw and word search puzzles. One of her greatest enjoyments was visiting many fun and exciting places while traveling the United States and Canada including Hawaii. But probably her most treasured times were the times spent with her family and many friends.
She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 15, and a social member of the VFW Post 1212 where she enjoyed having Wednesday lunches with her friends. At age 15 her brother Evert taught her to dance. Little did he know that dancing would become the thing she loved most of all. Those that knew her best knew they could usually find her dancing at either the VFW or the American Legion every Friday and Saturday night. She never stopped. Lord, get ready to strike up the band, this Gal loves to dance. She said, the secret to her long life was "dancing and a nightly Bud Light." Fittingly, she did both at her 100th Birthday party in August 2024.
Bernice attended the Rockland Methodist Church. She was a faithful attendee at the Belpre Senior Center serving as Vice President and volunteering in the kitchen or wherever she was needed. The Center became her second home where she had numerous friends and participated in as many of their activities and trips as she could. In 2014, she was recognized as the Belpre Senior Center Volunteer of the Year for her 25 years of volunteer service.
Bernice is survived by her son Charlie Burd (Leone Ohnoutka) of Vienna; two daughters, Judy Florence (Calvin) of Parkersburg, and Kay Gribble (Jim) of Belpre; six grandchildren, Bill Fox (Madeleine) of Virginia, Tammie Fox Ferguson of Belpre, Tracy Gribble Morrison (Kevin Nichols) of Columbus, Terri Gribble Miller (Dan), of Parkersburg, Charles Burd (Rohan Tandon) of Bali, Indonesia, and Nathan Burd (Racquel Eppler) of Vienna; seven great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, niece Nancy Jeffers (Gary) of Northville, MI; and nephews Donald Shahan, Roger Shahan, Denny Shahan, and Chuck Curtis.
In addition to her parents, Bernice was preceded in death by her husband William Edward Burd, her son, Larry Edward Burd, stepdaughter Edna Lou Burd, two sisters, Inez Burge, and Laura Nichols; two brothers Evert Shahan (Katie), and Pearly Shahan (Opal); several nieces and nephews; and very dear friend, Morris Alderman.
Services will be Thursday 11 a.m. at Leavitt Funeral Home, Parkersburg with Pastor Mark Zimmer officiating. Burial will be at Rockland Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday 6-8 p.m. and Thursday one hour prior to the service.
The Family wishes to express their eternal gratitude for the love and care provided to her by the incredible nurses, aides, and wonderful staff at Marietta Heights, her home for the past five plus years, especially Chelsey and Terri who went above and beyond in keeping her active and involved. Special thanks also go to the nurses and aids at Marietta Memorial Hospital (2-West), Dr. Kelli Cawley, and the staff at Cawley Hospice for providing Bernice with such loving care and attention.