Caia Lee Berning

Caia Lee Cawelti, a woman who lived fully and loved generously, was born on August 4, 1937, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to John R and A. Roberta Cawelti. She made her home in Greeley, Colorado, where she built a life full of love, connection, and joy. She was a woman with an infectious spirit, one of those people who genuinely delighted in being around others, whether they were family, friends, foster children she welcomed into her home, or strangers who quickly became friends over a shared meal or a game of bridge. Caia's sudden passing on September 17, 2026, at the age of 89, left a brightness missing from the lives of everyone who knew her.

Caia grew up in Fort Dodge, Iowa until her senior year where she moved to Pasco, Washington and graduated from Pasco Washington High School. She then received a full music scholarship to college. This was a remarkable achievement that spoke to her talent and promise. Though she ultimately chose a different path in life, her love of music, theater, and the arts never dimmed. After high school, Caia moved to Spencer, Iowa, and got a job in Spirit Lake, Iowa where she worked as a receptionist at South Bend Fishing Tackle. It was there she met Louis Berning, who worked in the warehouse. The two fell in love and were married on September 15, 1956, and she became Caia Lee Berning.

As a proud Air Force wife, Caia had the opportunity to see many places across the United States and even lived in Japan. She treasured those years and the memories they created together. Later, she became a proud Air Force mom when three of her sons followed their father into the Air Force, continuing the family legacy of service. That passion led her to found and serve as the first president of the Sweet Adeline's chapter in Rapid City, South Dakota, and later to become the founding president of the Cor Marie arm of the Knights of Columbus in Greeley.

Throughout her life, Caia gave her talent to her church community, serving in various parishes before finishing her career with the Weld County Department of Social Services. Her career was built on a foundation of genuine care for people.

But it was in the hours outside of work that Caia's spirit truly shone. She was a devoted Rockies fan, a rabid one as her family says, and when ESPN arrived, she was absolutely thrilled at the prospect of watching sports around the clock often on multiple devices at the same time. She could talk about any game on any channel and would settle in with her cross-stitch work to watch whatever match, race, or tournament was on. When the games weren't on, cartoons, musicals and mysteries filled her television hours. She was a passionate bridge player who gathered her friends regularly, and there was perhaps nothing she loved more than taking anyone willing, her children, grandchildren, friends, out to dinner, talking is the thing we will miss most. The Candlelight Theater and other dinner theaters became her happy places, venues where she could feed both her appetite and her love of performance.

Caia had an especially tender heart for children. She opened her home to numerous foster children over the years because she simply loved having young people around. She saw their potential and their worth.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Louis Francis Berning, her parents A. Roberta Hirl and John R. Cawelti, her brother Richard Hirl, and his wife Claudia Hirl.

She is survived by her siblings D. Greg (Judy) Horrigan of Palm Beach Florida, Dennis Horrigan of Greeley CO, Patricia (Jim) Longstaff of Syracuse NY, Rev Beverly (Wayne) Hughes of Dallas, TX, JD (Harriet) Hirl of Pappillion NE. Six sons, Brent (Isabel) Berning of Austin, TX, Brian Berning of Greeley, CO, Mark (Debra) Berning of Banks, OR, Matthew (Kellie) Berning of Brandon, FL, Ethan Berning of Greeley, CO, and Aaron (Jennifer) Berning of Evans, CO, as well as 20 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Her legacy is written not in what she accumulated, but in the number of people whose days were brightened by her presence and whose lives she touched with generosity and love.

A viewing will be held Thursday, October 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Stoddard Funeral Home, with rosary beginning at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held Friday, October 2, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Church, with reception to follow at the church.

Flowers can be sent to: Stoddard Funeral Home 3205 W. 28th Street Greeley, CO 80634

Memorial contributions in Caia's memory are suggested to the Colorado Dance Theater; the Community Outreach Center; St. Peter's Catholic Church, and the Guadalupe Shelter of Greeley.