Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother,
aunt, sister, daughter and friend…
Bernice O’Rourke was born on December 12, 1931 in Muncie, Indiana. She passed away on February 18, 2020 surrounded by loved ones through her final days and moments, in Prescott, AZ, and was welcomed Home by Richard, her precious husband of 66 years and our loving father and grandfather, a host of angels, her Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus, her parents, her brother, and three of her four sisters as well as many loved ones who passed before her.
Bernice, her father, Robert Rose, mother, Laura Ann, and her siblings, Bob, Betty, Kathleen, Bonita and Shirley, resided in Muncie, Indiana. Bernice married Richard O’Rourke on 8/8/1948 and moved to Hartford City, Indiana, where they raised three children, John, Kathryn and Patrick before moving back to Muncie to facilitate Bernice, John and Kathy’s attendance at Ball State University. Patrick attended Indiana University. Bernice graduated from Ball State University while raising her family, setting an amazing precedent for her children and nieces by instilling the value of education resulting in the enrichment of their lives. She then spent many years making a powerful difference in the lives of many children as a dedicated and loving teacher, both in Muncie, Indiana and in Peoria, Arizona after eventually moving there.
Over the span of her lifetime, Bernice created amazing achievements as an educator, but most importantly to her family, was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt and “granny” . Bernice and Richard’s oldest son, John, and his wife, Chere’, who currently reside in Prescott Valley, Arizona gave Bernice and Richard a granddaughter, Amy, and great grandson, Cody. Bernice and Richard’s daughter, Kathy and her husband Chuck, currently live in Prescott Valley while their son, Kyle, his wife Julie, four great grandsons, Skyler, Ethan, Jace and Cache, and great granddaughter, Kira, reside in North Carolina. Kyle’s sister, Kaitlin, who lives in Prescott Valley, is married to Robert who brings four additional great grandkids, Jordann, Ashleigh, Mason and Jessica, into the family. Bernice and Richard’s youngest son, Patrick, and his wife, Terry, live in Europe and have two daughters, Crystal and husband, David Toriumi, who gave Bernice and Richard great grandsons, River and Ronin, and Crystal’s sister, Amber O’Rourke, all of whom live in California. Patrick and Terry also have son, Riley, and his wife, Elizabeth Sorrells, who live in Europe. In addition, Bernice has many beloved nieces and nephews in various parts of the country who were a big part of her life, especially on holidays and yearly family campouts in southern Indiana. Being a wife, mom, granny, aunt and great granny who dearly loved her family members, who willingly jumped in to love and nurture each and every one of them at every possible opportunity, and who provided them with strong values, solid beliefs, and an amazing and fun childhood full of campouts, board games, family gatherings, and happy childhood memories, were some of Bernice’s greatest achievements… those, and many others, for which her family members love her immensely.
After the death of Richard, and the passing of time, Bernice met her current husband, Don, who has been a very loving and generous support in these later years providing great conversation, a fun sense of humor and loving companionship which Bernice has enjoyed immensely and for which her family has been very grateful.
Bernice O’Rourke will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and loved ones, and her many
inspiring and uplifting life lessons full of wisdom and humor will be passed through generations to come.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18