Submitted by: Dan Rich

Bernice H. Siporski

Aug. 29, 1915 - March 23, 2000

South Bend Tribune 3/26/2000

Bernice H. Siporski, age 84, of Harrison Rd., South Bend, died at 9:30 p.m., Thursday, in her residence. She was born August 29, 1915, in South Bend, and was a lifelong area resident. Mrs. Siporski retired in 1980 from the South Bend Community School Corporation as an elementary school teacher, where she was employed by the former Colfax School and Navarre Middle School. Mrs. Siporski graduated in 1960 from Bethel College where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Education and, in 1974, she graduated from Indiana University of South Bend, receiving a Master's Degree in Education.

On February 23, 1938, in South Bend, as Bernice Ciesielski, she married Ray Siporski, who survives. Also surviving is a daughter, Candyce L. Discavage of South Bend; two granddaughters, Raquel (James) Russell and Elea (Jason) Hoffsetz; one great-grandson, Sean Michael Russell; four sisters, Stella O'Donnell and Frances Ciesielski, both of South Bend, Valentina Estes of Gainesville, Florida, and Harriet Adkins of Colorado; and one brother, Sylvester Ciesielski of South Bend. She was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Mary Ann (Grzadziela) Ciesielski; and three brothers, Joseph, Vincent and Michael Ciesielski.

Family and friends may call from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm today in the ST. JOSEPH FUNERAL HOME, 824 S. Mayflower Road, South Bend. Services will be held at 12:00 pm, Monday, at the funeral home, with burial to follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Ct., South Bend, IN 46637; or to Lydick United Methodist Church, 26510 W. Edison Rd., South Bend, IN 46628.

Mrs. Siporski was a member of the Indiana State Retired Teachers Association for 20 years, the Polish American Business and Professional Women for 35 years, and Women of the Moose Chapter #1057 for 36 years. She was also a member of the Holiday Rambler Recreation Vehicle Club for 32 years, the LaPorte Porcelain and China Painters, and a student of Bernice Starzyk for 20 years, the Farm Bureau and the St. Joseph County Homemakers.