Bernice Marie France - Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home

BERNICE M. FRANCE

CANASERAGA-Bernice Marie France, 79, of 1044 County Route 13C, passed away late Thursday morning (Nov. 4, 2010) at St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell.
Born in Buffalo on May 29, 1931, she was a daughter of the late William and Nora Thomas Mess. On Feb. 15, 1947, she was married in Dansville to Jesse France, who predeceased her on Dec. 11, 1997, after 50 years of marriage. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her son, Michael France, her four brothers, Richard, Howard, Harold and Jeffrey Mess and her sister, Josephine Robinson.
A resident of Swain and Dansville before moving to Canaseraga in 1950, Bernice was employed for eight years at Westinghouse in Bath. She was employed as a Medical Assistant for Dr. John Tisdale in Canaseraga before she began her 25 year employment with the medical practice of Dr. Mario Argentieri in Hornell. Later she was employed for seven years as a postal clerk in Dansville.
Bernice was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Canaseraga and a member of the board of directors of the Hornell Area Campfire Girls, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fawcett American Legion Post in Canaseraga, a member and past treasurer of the Canaseraga Lioness, a member of St. James Mercy Auxiliary and a volunteer at the gift shop at St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell, a member and past treasurer of TOPS in Arkport, and a member, past president, vice-president and trustee of the Essential Club Free Library in Canaseraga.
She loved flowers, birds and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her family includes her five children, Tammy (James) Spencer of Canaseraga, Gary France (Darla Bacon) of Canaseraga, Steve (Connie) France of Albany, Douglas (Cindy) France of Bishopville and Tina France of Canaseraga; her 14 grandchildren; Christopher Spencer, Karla (Matthew) Ras, Mona (Craig) Carpenter, Laurie Gates, Michael Jr. (Joel) France, Brian France, Linzie (Eli) Marcus, Amber Blovsky, Tim (Rachel) Blovsky, Mary Katherine Shroyer, Jason (Nicole) Reynolds, Teresa (Andy) Dennis, Emilie (Mathew) Carney and Harley France; her 20 great-grandchildren; her two brothers, Leonard (Jane) Mess of Florida and James (Janet) Mess of Oregon; her two sisters, Betty (Kenneth) Wheaton of Bath and Priscilla Hurtado of Florida; also her nieces, nephews and cousins.
Calling hours are from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell, where the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fawcett American Legion Post will conduct a memorial service at 3:45 p.m. Sunday. Friends are invited to meet her family at St. Mary’s Church in Canaseraga where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday. Committal prayers and interment will follow at the Canaseraga Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to either St. Mary’s Church, 6 North St., Canaseraga or to the Essential Club Free Library, 11 Pratt St., Canaseraga, NY 14822. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.