(Elva) Bea Berniece Fouser Matejcek

Born February 24, 1922, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, To Fred and Elva Fouser, Berniece was the youngest of five children. She came from a family of farmers, cattle breeders, and railroad workers on the men’s side, and skilled needle workers and seamstresses on the women’s side. Berniece was self-reliant, and she reveled in using her skills to make things for her home and family, rather than buying a commercial product.

Berniece loved learning. She was the first in her family to seek an education beyond high school, and the first to leave her hometown to pursue that education. She left the farm community for Chicago and its largest teaching hospital, Michael Reese. She earned a Nursing degree at Michael Reese, becoming a Registered Nurse. The rigors of classroom, homework, and practical experience in the hospital did not prevent her from developing several fun-loving buddies among the other nurses, nor from meeting interesting young gentlemen. During this time she met the love of her life, Ernest W. Matejcek. They sneaked out of town and married, against the rules. The result was a 66 year life partnership.

Berniece raised five children, managed the family finances, sewed clothing for the family, worked full-time, and worked as a delegate to the Republican Presidential Convention that nominated Dwight Eisenhower. She also was able to make time to be a leader in her church, sing in the choir, teach Sunday School, and even establish Pioneer Girls Clubs on her day off from her work in the Maternity Ward ‘birth rooms.’ Her mischievous sense of humor stayed with Berniece her entire life.

Berniece’s walk with the Lord was precious to her, and she began each day with prayer and Bible study. She was adventurous, and loved to travel; she would have been the first Great Grandmother on the Space Shuttle if they had invited her. Berniece is survived by her five children, Fred, Frances, Paul, Glen and Amy, as well as five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

A memorial will be held for Berniece in Chicago, Saturday July 17, 2010, at Spring Hill Suites Marriott, 8101 W Higgins Rd, after which her ashes will be interred alongside her husband in Bohemian National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) are appreciated.