Bernice Rita Puccio Kettenring

Bernice Rita Puccio Kettenring was called home by the Lord and his Blessed Mother on Sunday, May 1, 2022, at the age of 97. Known by Bernice, Bea, Bernie, Minnie, BeBe, and Mamma, she was a loving, unselfish, devoted daughter, sister, niece, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, godmother and friend.

Bernice was born on September 10, 1924, into a large, close-knit Sicilian family. She was the only girl amongst three brothers and mostly male cousins. Like so many of the “Greatest Generation,” Bernice had to leave school early to help support her family during the Great Depression and World War II. She started her work career sewing down the flies on pants at Haspel Brothers. During WWII, like many New Orleanians, she was employed by Andrew Higgins Industries. She gained experience in the payroll department which later helped her land a job at D. H. Holmes when Higgins terminated most female employees at the end of the war. Bernice, now in her early twenties, met many new friends at Holmes and made friendships that lasted for decades. Around this same time, she met a handsome Air Force serviceman, Edgar Kettenring, from down “below the bridge” and new friendships were forged with his neighborhood friends. Soon after they were married in November of 1949, newlyweds Edgar and Bernice moved to Miami, Florida, for his next Air Force assignment. Bernice did not like the heat and sandiness of Miami and she was not happy that her new husband was off flying around the world and so seldom in Miami with her. Like any true New Orleans girl, Bernice missed her family and friends. When she learned that she was pregnant, Bernice bolted back to New Orleans into the arms of her family. She delivered their first daughter Debbie in 1951 and their second Denise, who, according to family lore, was found on the doorstep, in late 1952. During that same year, Bernice also embarked on a new career in banking at the main branch of the original First National Bank of Commerce. In the beginning, she worked as a keypunch operator inputting data throughout the night. Once again, she made many lasting friends. Eventually, she was promoted to a clerk position in the Collateral Loan Department during regular daytime hours. In that position, Bernice was respected for her dedication, efficiency, and friendliness. She made friends throughout the downtown financial district as she hand-carried millions of dollars of stocks and bonds to various financial institutions. After 37 happy years, Bernice retired in 1989. At first, she hated the isolation of retirement and the loss of a sense of purpose, but she busied herself with caring for her family and grandchildren and bargain-shopping with friends.

Luckily, God sent her an angel in the form of a neighbor who talked her into serving lunch at St. Dominic School with other grandparents and joining various parish organizations. Bernice was soon busy volunteering and becoming a member of the Jesus Our Joy Lay Carmelites, the St. Dominic Rosary Altar Society, the Tuesday Grandparents Lunch Servers, and the Rosarians. She remained active in all of these organizations until she was 95, when COVID halted all meetings. Prior to Katrina, she and her friends, Merlin McGuire and Margaret Dehon, were commended by the Archdioceses for delivering lunch to shut-ins through the Meals on Wheels program. Although Bernice loved her work life and community involvement, she was unselfishly devoted to her family and friends. She was a dedicated mother and grandmother who was actively involved with her children and grandchildren. Even before having her own grandchildren, she was given the endearing name of BeBe by her friend Butsy’s granddaughter, Michelle Groome. It became her favorite name as several generations now know her as BeBe. Nothing brought her greater joy and pride than cheering on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their dancing and athletic pursuits and attending their schools’ events.

Bernice was preceded in death by parents, Joseph V. and Rose Borrello Puccio; her spouse, Edgar J. Kettering; beloved brothers, Anthony J. Puccia and Joseph V. Puccia; and loving cousins, Stephen J. Borrello and Edmond L. Lacoste.

Bernice is survived by and will be greatly missed by her loving and devoted family: daughters, Deborah K. Lobrano (Joseph) and Denise K.Smith (Fred); brother, Felix L. Puccio, who has lived with Bernice since birth; grandchildren: Ann S. Ferguson (Kris), Jared R. Smith (Linay), Rosalind L. Murray (Brandon), Meghan L. Lee (Paul) and Joseph Kettenring Lobrano; Great-Grandchildren: Gavin Smith, Ava Bernice Grizzaffi, Hollyn Smith, Lucy Grizzaffi, Brandon Murray, Magdalena Murray, neices and nephews: Annette P. Incardona (Barbara), Anthony Puccia (Susan), Pam P. Nemeth (Dale), Paulette P. Costa, Joseph V. Puccia (Ann), Yvonne Nolan and a host of loving Whelan, Miller, and Cordes nieces and nephews, and cousins: Johanna Lae and Joann Senko.

Bernice loved life and the people she met throughout it. She never met a stranger and her friendships transcended age barriers. Her friends became her family’s friends and friends of her children and grandchildren all loved her dearly. She listened, knew how to question and was sincerely interested in the details of people’s lives. She made friends easily and for life. She was thrilled that some of those friendships have continued into their third generation. Each friendship enriched her life. Preceding her in death were her lifelong friends: Magdalena “Butsy” Earhart (Mitchell), Marie Scaffidi McDonald (Ellis), Emile Fichter (Joyce & Pat); FNBC friends Marie Pecoraro and Jackie Bleuler, and retirement friends: Merlin McGuire, Margaret Dehon, Rachel Plaisance, Claire Scheyd,and Linda Guastella. She continued to have enduring devoted friendships until the day she passed. Mourning her passing are: Generational love ones, Elizabeth and Elise McDonald, Diane McDonald Hudson (Jerry) Mardel Earhart Groome and her children, Michelle, Mardel, Dennis (Lori), Carol Lucia Derbyshire (Bobby), Bridget Derbyshire, Debra Derbyshire Burnett (Jon), Sherie Bleuler; Retirement/St. Dominic friends: Betty Lorenz, Cathy Signorelli, Bertha Carrau, Emma Fiorella, Adrienne LeBlanc, Rhea Gonczi, Lay Carmelites and Rosary Altar Society members; and last, but not least, Bernice’s beloved and devoted FNBC sister, Marlene Harris. The family would like to give special thanks to: Dr. Elizabeth McDonald, Dr. Ka-Yan Tong, Dr. Henry Pretus, Dr. Jane Gurtler, Dr. Gary Menszer, and Denise Whelan who attended Bernice and kept her healthy for many years as well as to the nurses and CNAs of Tradition Hospice who cared for her during the last few months and to Diane Cresson Schwing for bringing Holy Communion on Sundays.

Services will be held for Bernice on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at St. Dominic Church located at 775 Harrison Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70124. Visitation begins at 12 Noon. Prior to the start of the Funeral Mass at 2:00 P. M., there will be words of remembrance shared by Bernice’s loved ones. Following the mass, the interment will take place at Lake Lawn Park, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124.

In lieu of flowers, BeBe requested masses or donations to St. Dominic School, 6326 Memphis St., New Orleans 70124, or to a school of choice for students with financial needs.