- Date Of Birth: June 1, 1926
- Date Of Death: March 16, 2013
- State: Florida
BERNICE PAULINE BURTNER, 86
Bernice Pauline Burtner went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, March 16, 2013 suffering from renal failure. With the help of Good Shepherd Hospice, she was able to spend her last days at her home surrounded by family and friends. Now, she is singing with the angels.
Born in Pittsburgh, PA on June 1, 1926, she attended Guardian Angels elementary school learning her lessons in both English and Polish. She graduated from Langley High School in 1942 and married William Neely in 1947. They had three children before he died in 1960. In 1962, Bernice married Donald Burtner, who also had three children. They raised their children then moved to Oakwood Estates in Winter Haven, FL in 1985 after Donald retired.
Bernice served as President of the Oakwood Social Club and organized and escorted tours throughout Florida and other Gulf states. With her beautiful voice and love of singing, she sang with and directed the Oakwood Entertainers for many years. Bernice joined the Eastern Star and Winter Haven Havenettes.
Bernice was especially beloved by her eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Even though most lived far from Florida, they always knew they were thought of through birthday cards, Christmas gifts, phone calls and remembering important times in their lives. As the children grew, email communications strengthened those bonds.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Bernice Zawrotny; husbands William Neely and Donald Burtner; brother, Raymond Zawrotny; and sister, Dorothy Ellwood; and stepson, Gary Burtner.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan (Neely) Stephens (Mark), Lakeland, FL; sons, Robert Neely (Rebecca) and William Neely (Diane Beale), Pittsburgh, PA; stepson, Andrew Burtner (Judy), Chandler, AZ; and stepdaughter, Linda Burtner, Harmony, PA; sisters, Sabina Rebel, Tavernier, FL and Virginia Goven, Pittsburgh, PA; brother, Walter Zawrotny, Henderson, NV; and grandchildren: James Burrows and Laura Wright, FL; Hope O’Leary, Joseph Neely, Cassandra Neely and Jason Burtner, PA; and, Drew and Abby Burtner, AZ.
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