Bernice ""Bernie Eva Malnati

Bernice Eva (Bernie) Malnati, age 93, passed away peacefully in her home at Brookdale of Greeley on Friday, April 8, 2016. Born in Bellingham, WA to Bernice Augusta (Day) and Roswell J. Oliver, Bernie graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle, WA in 1940. In 1941, she married her high school sweetheart, George William Davies, a pilot who was killed in action in Europe during WWII. After a trip to Denver to visit her mother-in-law in 1946, Bernie met and married WWII veteran, Lloyd Gilman Malnati of Denver. Together they raised three children, Glee, Bonnie, and Michael.

Growing up in Washington, Bernie enjoyed swimming, beachcombing, reading, blackberry picking, camping and hiking her beloved Mount Rainier with her many dear friends and cousins. Bernie enjoyed camp every summer with Campfire girls. As a teenager she was a camp counselor where she loved singing and working with younger campers. Later in life in Colorado, she was a dedicated Campfire leader and Cub Scout den mother for her children. While Bernie loved her new life in Colorado and the Rocky Mountains, she remained close to her Washington roots with her love of shrimp, salmon, and Dungeness crab as her favorite foods.

As a young mother and wife, Bernie took pride in being a homemaker and raising her children. She served many years on the PTA before becoming a bookkeeper for the Denver Public Schools where she worked for 16 years. After her retirement, Bernie dedicated herself to her grandchildren, attending sporting events and school activities. She always enjoyed the company and enthusiasm of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bernie was a life-long learner. Before moving to Denver, she attended the University of Washington in Seattle. In retirement, Bernie wrote her autobiography while taking a “Write Your Life” class. She was proud of her 4 years of study at the Catholic Biblical School of the Archdiocese of Denver, graduating in May of 2002. A devout Catholic, Bernie was blessed to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1998. She loved travel and had fond memories of Mexico, Hawaii, France and Italy, where she saw the Pope, and finally met family relatives in England.

An enthusiastic lover of people, Bernie was a friend to all. Giving generously of her time to others, she volunteered at the Centennial and Farr Library branches in Greeley for over 10 years, she read to children at Meeker Elementary School, and lovingly served communion to the elderly. Bernie touched many lives with her sweet smile, positive outlook, care and love for others.

Bernie is survived by two daughters, Georgia Lee “Glee” (Hal) Lunka, Bonnie J. (Dale) Thompson, and one son, Michael David (Christie) Malnati; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and both husbands.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at Saint Mary Catholic Church on Friday, April 22, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. A private burial at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, CO (entrance off S. Sheridan Blvd) to follow. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Mary Catholic School, in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th St., Greeley, CO 80631. Please visit www.allnutt.com to sign an online guestbook.