Bernice Packard

The funeral Mass for Bernice Packard will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 16, 2013, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Wadena with Father Donald Wagner as celebrant. Friends may call at the Johnson-Schuller Chapel in Wadena from 4:00 until 8:00 PM on Friday, with the Rosary at 5:00 PM and Parish Prayers at 7:00 PM. Visitation will resume at the church on Saturday from 9:30 AM. until the time of Mass. Bernice Louise (Maroney) Packard, 93, of Wadena passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at the Long Prairie Memorial Nursing Home where she had resided the last 16 months. A strong woman of Irish heritage, she overcame lung cancer but succumbed to Lewy Body Parkinson's. Bernice Louise (Maroney) Packard was born the sixth child of John H. and Grace (Stevenson) Maroney on January 2, 1920, at rural Wadena, Minnesota. She attended St. Ann's school through the 8th grade and graduated as salutatorian from Wadena High School in 1938. She worked as a photographer and photographer's assistant for Rex McDonald Studio during high school, for Osborne Studio in Dickinson, ND from 1940 to 1945, and then back at the McDonald Studio for many years. Bernice married Sidney Packard on September 4, 1948. They lived on a farm southwest of Wadena where they raised two sons and two daughters. Active throughout her life in the community in which she was born, Bernice chaired the District 1541 School Board, was a member of St. Ann's Christian Mothers, Wadena Whirl-A-Ways Square Dance Club, and was a 4-H leader. She also owned Packard Art Supply, taught tole painting and rosemaling, made quilts for each of her children and grandchildren, and participated in many craft shows in the area. Bernice and Sidney enjoyed traveling with trips to England and Alaska providing particularly special memories. They retired from the land in 2000 and moved into Wadena. They celebrated 63 years together. Bernice was the matriarch and moral compass for her devoted family. Bernice is survived by sons Mark (Audrey) of Mantorville and Bruce (Nona) of Papillion, Nebraska; daughters Nancy Leasman (Ron) of Long Prairie and Christi Dickey (Bill) of Fergus Falls; 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Herman Hammel, sister-in- law Margaret Packard, and many special nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Sidney in 2011, brothers Howard and Richard Maroney; sisters, Mary Smead, Catherine Stombaugh, Frances Boehland, and Lois Hammel, and son Terence who died at birth. Pallbearers will be Mark Packard, Jr., Jeff Packard, David Packard, Bradley Packard, Michael Leasman, Silas Leasman, Charles Stombaugh, Walter Packard. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Wadena.

Bernice Packard

January 2, 1920 - March 12, 2013