Obituary of Bernice M. Pesesky

Bernice M. Pesesky died at home on the evening of February 23, 2024, at the age of 103. She was born on January 9, 1921, in Shoshoni, WY, to Edith M. Milburn and Earl F. Milburn. Bernice earned her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from St. Louis University in 1943, and immediately joined the U.S. Army Corps, achieving the rank of Captain while serving in North Africa and Italy during World War II. Her future husband Joseph Pesesky earned the rank of First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The two met at a USO dance during the war and married in 1946 when Bernice moved from California to Horseheads, NY, where they raised five children. Bernice worked in various capacities as a nurse for 40 years, retiring as a Nursing Instructor from St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Elmira, NY in 1983. She was a member of the New York State Nurses' Association, District 3. Bernice was a communicant of St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Elmira Heights, NY for sixty years and was past president of the Altar and Rosary Society. She also served as President of the Ladies of Charity of Chemung County, NY. In 2005, Bernice moved to Easthampton, MA to make her home with her daughter Jean and son-in-law William Hobbie. Bernice was most recently a communicant of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Northampton, MA. She also participated in many activities at the Easthampton Senior Center. Bernice is survived by her sons William Pesesky (Sharon) of Homer, NY and Lawrence Pesesky (Rose Ann Magaldi) of Leonia, NJ; her daughters Mary Grace of Seneca Falls, NY and Jean Hobbie (William); and her son-in-law Anthony Capuco of Lynch Station, VA. She was predeceased by her oldest daughter Laura Capuco in 2016. Bernice is also survived by her grandchildren Natalie Jones (Edwin), Elise Baker, Jessica McEvily (Christopher), Justin Capuco (Brittney Hart), Mitchell Pesesky (Katherine Thacher), Matthew Pesesky (Aine O'Sullivan), and Aleksandr "Sasha" Hobbie. Bernice also leaves ten great-grandchildren: Alexander, Elisebeth, Emily, John "JC", Van, Dylan, Luca, Laura "Frankie", Carter, and Ira; her brother-in-law Carl Pesesky, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Bernice was pre-deceased by her husband Joseph in 1998 and her brother Ray in 1937. The family will be receiving friends on Sunday, March 3, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Lynch Funeral Home located at 318 West Broad Street, Horseheads, NY 14845, followed by a reception at the American Legion Post 154, 236 Scottwood Avenue, Elmira Heights, NY beginning at 4:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held the following morning, Monday, March 4, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church located at 224 Franklin Street, Elmira, NY 14904. A burial with full military honors will take place on March 4 at 11:00 a.m. at Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira, NY. Words of condolences and memories may be shared at www.lynchsfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to ALS United Greater NY, 42 Broadway, Suite 1724, NY, NY 10004, www.als-ny.org, or the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, PO Box 32141, NY, NY 10087, www.ocrahope.org.