Bernice Lucille Newman

Bernice Lucille Newman, 82, of Albuquerque, New Mexico passed away on May 2, 2019, after a short battle with heart and kidney disease. She was born on May 10, 1936, in Fairview, Kansas.  Bernice was the seventh of nine children born to Bernard John and Helena Elizabeth Jurgensmeier previously deceased. In her childhood, she was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Parish in the Fidelity community.

Bernice attended school in Fairview, Kansas, and graduated from high school in 1954, and continued onto college.  On October 6, 1956, she married Charles “Chuck” Frederick Newman in Topeka, Kansas.  They then moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1958.

Bernice stayed home with their four children until the youngest one went to school.  She then worked for Albuquerque Public Schools for 27 years as an Educational Assistant.  After retiring, she volunteered for 26 years in the Hospice Unit at Kaseman/Presbyterian Hospital and for 10 years as the Sunshine Chairman and Greeter at the Board Members meetings for the Ostomy Association of Albuquerque. She participated on hot air balloon chase crews for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta for 16 years.  She assisted in the Reading Program for third graders at her grandson’s school.

She especially liked to travel with her family and friends.  She made six trips to Europe, and during one of the trips to Germany, she met her second cousins. She began to learn the German language and became fluent in it. She also traveled the United States extensively with family and friends to national parks, pueblos, roadside attractions, and appreciated the beautiful landscapes and the people she met. She documented the genealogy trees for both the Jurgensmeier and Newman families. Bernice also enjoyed activities and events of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  There is nothing more important than family and friends to Bernice.  She will be greatly missed.

Bernice is survived by her husband, Chuck, and children, Arlene Bailey of Enterprise, Alabama, Dennis (Mary) Newman of Houston, Texas, Charlotte (Jim) Brown of Phoenix, Arizona, and Alan (Shelley) Newman of Broomfield, Colorado; eight grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.  Also surviving are her four sisters, Evelyn M. (Hubert) Suther, Viola A. Peters, Helen M. Skinner, and Lois K. Bindel; sister-in-laws, Joan Jurgensmeier and Carolyn Jurgensmeier, and many nieces and nephews.

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers, Raymond, Leo, Eugene, and LeRoy.

Rosary will be held at Daniels Family Funerals & Cremation, 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109 on Friday, May 24, 2019 at 6:00pm.  Bernice will not be available for viewing.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be at Risen Savior Catholic Church, 7701 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 11:30am.  There will be a light reception following the Mass at Daniels Family Funerals & Cremation. Since this is a celebration of Bernice’s life, she wanted everybody to wear bright colors.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to:

• American Heart Association at www2.heart.org or call 1-800-242-8721.

• Presbyterian Hospital Foundation for Hospice, PO Box 26666, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87125 or call (505) 724-6580.