Bernice McNabb

Bernice McNabb (nee Tezon) passed away peacefully on Monday, March 28, 2016. Beloved wife of the late Edward McNabb; loving mother of Bonnie (Bill) Chapa, Connie (Larry) Ratliff and Ed McNabb; loving grandmother of Margurite (Rex) Spent, Shane (Jeanie) Ratliff and Cindy Ranek; great grandmother of Alex, Alaina, Katelyn, Melanie, Summer and Sophie; Bernice was preceded in death by her parents William and Otelia Tezon, grandparents Joseph and Katherine Schwartz, John and Amanda Tezon, sisters Margurite Smith, Catherine Henderson, Matilda Johnson, Louise Kirby, brothers William, Leonard and John Tezon. She was a sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend to many.

Private services will be held at a later date. Interment will be in National Cemetery, Jefferson Barracks, MO. In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to the Arnold Church of Christ Food Pantry.

Our Mom, Bernice; moved to St. Louis, Missouri from Boonville. She stayed in a boarding house our grandparents owned. It was here she met their son Edward and later married. Dad and Mom lived at the boarding house for several years and raised two girls there. All that time, we lived in two rooms there and shared a community bathroom. Later the move to Arnold, Missouri was made to an average size home; and then a son was added. Mom had a few jobs in the city and after the move to Arnold she was a home maker. During WWII she worked at Reynolds Aluminum and made items for the war effort to throw-off radar. She even candled eggs in a factory. She was good at stretching food for the family and a good baker too. She liked to fish and even melted down lead in our kitchen to make her own weights. If not fishing; she liked to go mushroom hunting in season and other times would have Dad take her to a creek to cut fresh water cress. She would wear boots for snake protection and share the watercress with our family doctor. Many of our school clothes were made by her. She was quite good at sewing. She would cut our hair and give perms to save money. If Mom found a sock with a hole she darned it in repair so a pair could be wore. She also did most of the grass cutting and raised flowers. She kept fruit trees for canning. At one time she got a jig-saw and designed her own wooden Christmas decorations for the yard; which were the envy of the neighborhood. Now on another day; one might see her painting a mailbox. At voting time she was on a committee to help count votes in Arnold. Later she also became a member of the Fox School kitchen band. She made her own instrument and dress. As a child she loved the family horse Paul and helped to groom him. She had all kinds of pets. Dogs being her favorite; when she played at the creek they all followed along with her. If a bird was injured outside she tried to save it and often did. One bird she saved kept coming back; flew over her when she hung laundry out and even landed on her shoulder in gratitude.

Mom's legacy to her children and grand-children is to live a pure and righteous life. To stand strong in all trials and tribulations. To keep a positive mind; keeping on the path of kindness.

Mom's last few years was at Scenic Nursing Home in Herculaneum, Missouri . She felt at home there and always talked about her peaceful living and care. She especially talked about all the food and snacks. To know she was content was a blessing to us.

Mom was so many things. Our cheerleader, encourager and teacher of morals. She held her love strong for each of us and we are thankful for her sincere guidance in life.