Bernice Alvernaz was born Sept. 6, 1923 in Lakeview, Oregon to George W. Dumm and Gertie C. Mikel Dumm. Her family left Oregon when she was 6 months old. First they moved to Hemet, CA and later to Hanford, CA. A few years later they moved to Modesto, Ceres area before finally landing in Turlock.

She attended the Seventh Day Adventist School and the Modesto Union Academy. During the war she worked at Castle Air Base as a mechanic. In 1944 she married the love of her life, Alfred Alvernaz. Together they had 2 sons, Jim and Tom. She worked at Polly Ann Bakery for 17 years. When she left the bakery she went to work with her husband in his farming business where they grew watermelons and pumpkins.

In her free time she enjoyed working in her flower gardens and sewing her own clothes. She and her husband joined the All Seasons Trailer Club in 1977 and spent many happy years going to monthly outings. With friends from the trailer club they took several trips and traveled to all 50 states in their fifth wheel trailer. For their 25th and 40th wedding anniversaries they flew to Hawaii. They also took a cruise to Alaska with friends. Bernice belonged to a Friendship Club and the Red Hats Ladies.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred, of 62 years, 3 brothers and 3 sisters, her mother and grandmother. She is survived by her sons Jim (and Marilyn) Alvernaz and Tom (and Joanne) Alvernaz, 3 grandsons, 2 step-granddaughters, 1 great-grandson, 1 great-granddaughter, and 2 step-grandsons.

Visitation will be held at Turlock Funeral Home, on Wednesday, January 11th from 4:00-7:00pm. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, January 12th at 11:00am at Turlock Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to The American Heart Association National 7272 Greenville Avenue Dallas, TX 75231, or the American Diabetes Association 1701 North Beauregard Street Alexandria, VA 22311

Please share your memories and condolences at www.turlockmemorialpark.com

Turlock Journal
Wednesday, January 11, 2012