Bernice Pawlisch

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Bernice Pawlisch, 79, of Villa Ridge died Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Dec. 26, 1922, in Arkansas, the daughter of Earl H. and Myrtle Elizabeth Cullen Johnson. She married Edward Pawlisch. He preceded her in death on Nov. 5, 1993.

She was a member of the Villa Ridge Union Church, where she taught Sunday school for 20 years and was a member of the Ladies Aid. She also was a member of the National Teachers Education Association and was a former member of the Mounds Business and Professional Women's Club, serving as past district director of Area 16. She was a past 4-H leader in Villa Ridge and was a former member of the Villa Ridge Homemakers Extension.

She was a graduate of Southern Illinois University and had taught in Pulaski County schools for 15 years.

She is survived by a son, James Ray "Jimmy" Pawlisch of San Diego, Calif.; two sisters, Marilyn Dillon of Valley Park, Mo., and Albert Winders of Cairo, Ill.; and two brothers, Leo Johnson of Sullivan, Mo., and Billy Joe Johnson of St. Louis.

She also was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter and four brothers.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge and after 10:30 a.m. Sunday until the funeral hour at the church.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Villa Ridge Union Church with the Rev. Ralph Kaufman officiating.

Burial will be at Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge.