Bernice "Bernie" Merlo

Merlo, Sue Bernice "Bernie" Pooser, 98, left this earth quietly and passed into God's hands on May 29, 2011. Bernie was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina on February 26, 1913, the only daughter of Robert W. and Annie Sue Pooser. The Pooser family moved to Orlando in 1926, when Bernie was thirteen. She graduated from Orlando High School and went on to work at Peggy Hale, one Orlando's oldest dress shops. She later met her future husband, Charles "Charlie" Merlo, on a blind date when he was home on leave during World War II. It was love at first sight. They married and moved to Pittsburgh, PA, where Charlie worked for U.S. Steel and later for Sauer Mechanical as a commercial plumbing estimator. In addition to being a wonderful homemaker, cook and seamstress, Bernie was also very active in the McMurray Garden Club. They lived in Pittsburgh for the next 30 years before moving back to Orlando. Bernie and Charlie had a perfect marriage and spent many happy years in Orlando and at her brother's mountain home near Clayton, GA, before Charlie passed away in 1995. Bernie will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She is pre-deceased by her parents Robert W. and Annie Sue Pooser, brother Robert W. Pooser II and sister-in-law Vera Comer Pooser, brother Walter E. Pooser, and sister-in-law Patti Rider Pooser. Bernie is survived by her brother Louie M. Pooser of Orlando, nephew Robert W. Pooser III (Patty) of Orlando, nephew Mark Pooser (Laura) of Orlando, niece Sheila Pooser Green (Ron) of Orlando, and great niece Telisa Pooser of Orlando. A visitation will be held on Friday, June 3 at 10:15 am at Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home in Orlando followed immediately by a service at 11:00 am. Arrangements under the direction of Colonial Chapel/Carey Hand, Orlando, FL.