It is with great sadness that the family of Bernice Blake announces her passing at the age of 85 years at the Leonard A. Miller Centre, surrounded by her loving family. Predeceased by her parents Gregory and Mary "Molly" (Carew) Greene; parents-in-law Noah and Mary (Hall) Blake; sister Mary (Greene) Taylor; brothers-in-law Fred Taylor, Ronald O'Brien, Warren Noseworthy, Bill Hayden and John Hickey; sisters-in-law Rita Noseworthy and Margaret Hickey. She is now reunited with her beloved husband Peter (2012), infant son (1961), and cherished and deeply-mourned son John (2017). Left with enduring memories, she will be missed by her children Robert (Beverley), Anne Marie "Nancy" (Christopher Fitzgerald), Maureen (Aidan Kenny) and Catherine; and daughter-in-law Janice Young and her children Samuel and Mackenzie Tipple. Grandma also leaves her treasured grandchildren Joseph Taylor, Erin and Allison Kenny and Lauren and Evan Blake and their mother Joanne Squires Blake. Bernice is also survived by her sisters Margaret O'Brien and Nancy Karlik, brother-in-law and friend Louis "Tex" Karlik, sister-in-law Theresa Hayden, and a large circle of nieces, nephews and friends. She will also be missed by her feline companion Willow. A caring mother and grandmother, patient and humble, mom was also an entrepreneur, early childhood educator, and a gifted artist. She painted with the same gentle stroke as she lived her life, and will be missed by her artist friends. Many thanks to the medical staff on 6 West at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital and the physicians and nursing staff on the Palliative Care Unit at the Miller Centre for their exceptional care. Our thanks and appreciation extended to Debbie at Bayshore Home Care Services for the care, attention and friendship given to mom. Her faith sustained her, and we acknowledge with gratitude the spiritual support provided to her by St. Teresa's Parish. Resting at Caul's Funeral Home, 84 LeMarchant Road, St. John's. Visitation will take place on Thursday, November 2, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held from St. Teresa's Church, Mundy Pond Road, on Friday, November 3, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. with interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to the MUN Botanical Garden or St. Teresa's Parish.

Gentle woman, quiet light