Our family's great loss

On Sunday June 12th, I lost perhaps the toughest human being I have ever known, my Grandmother. The funeral home prepared a beautiful story of life and a memorial film that can be found at Life Story Funeral Homes.

It is so wonderful though, that I wanted to include it here so the folks that know me, but never had a chance to meet my Grandmother can know her through this.

Bernice Loftus was a caring and compassionate woman who had gained much wisdom and strength throughout her lifetime. She faced challenges that came her way with perseverance and found ways to turn tragedy into beauty. She adored her loved ones and taught her children to value honesty, hard work, and education.

The decade of the 1920s was a time of optimism and change in the United States. William and Caroline (Berning) Bradtmueller of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, welcomed several of their children into the world during this time, and on December 27, 1927, they were thrilled to receive their eleventh bundle of joy, little Bernice. Bernice grew up chasing after her big brothers and sisters and was later joined by two younger siblings. The Bradtmueller's were of German descent and raised their children with a strong sense of right and wrong as well as a sense of accountability to others, character traits that remained with Bernice all of her life.

In the midst of such a large family, Bernice quickly learned to share and to pitch in around the house. The stock market crash of 1929 meant that financial resources became even more strained than usual, and Bernice learned to appreciate simple pleasures in life, a quality that would be most helpful when life sent hardship her way. Just a few short days before Bernice's fourteenth birthday, hardship showed up in a big way. The United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was attacked by the Japanese, drawing the U.S. into World War II. Bernice prayed and sacrificed along with the rest of the country and after four long years she rejoiced when the conflict finally ended.

In early June of 1942, the United States Navy had won a decisive victory against the Japanese at the Battle of Midway in the Pacific Theatre. On the seventh anniversary of that event, Bernice attended a Navy ball. It was there that she met a young man named Donmicheal 'Mike' Loftus. The two quickly hit it off and eventually fell in love. On February 18, 1950, they exchanged vows and began their journey through life together that would last for over fifty years. Bernice and Mike had four wonderful children. Bernice took great joy in being a mother and always wanted the best for her kids. She taught every one of them the basics of reading and writing before they attended school at St. Monica's.

In 1957, Bernice endured a horrific injury, sustaining burns in a house fire that damaged seventy percent of her body. She was confined to the hospital for four long months of healing and grueling rehabilitation. Over the next several years, she chose not to go out in public and had to undergo at least twenty-five plastic surgeries. She found comfort in tending to roses and eventually became a member of the Rose Society, an organization that became an outlet for her creativity and a source of relaxation and peace. Her entrance into 'rose shows' was innocent enough as she and Mike were on their way out of town so they dropped off a cut a rose at Wedel's. Despite her innocence of the 'how you do it', they later heard on the radio that her cutting received the top prize-she was hooked. Bernice was a member of the Rose Society for over forty years and specialized in delicate, remarkable miniature roses. She received many awards as a result of her skillful cultivation and was admired for her patience and dedication to her craft. In fact Mike shared the enthusiasm with her and showed some roses himself.

Bernice managed the home and also worked at a couple of outside jobs. As a young woman, she seamed nylon hose and later worked at Jolly Kids' Clothes as a seamstress. In fact, her son Greg said that mom was constantly crocheting or knitting. Weddings and births were the times that she presented her handy work that included, baby blankets, highly detailed table cloths other finely made apparel. Many family members have Bernice made items that they treasure and she even donated some of her work to benefit worthy causes.

She also became a licensed beautician. The job she got the most satisfaction from outside of motherhood was babysitting. She cared for her charges with the same fairness that she had with her own children and also taught educational fundamentals to the children she watched. Several children owe their ability to read and write to Bernice as she saw to teaching them before they attended school. She was highly respected for her emphasis on ethics and personal responsibility.

Bernice's family appreciated the fact that her many talents included cooking. Everyone looked forward to lunch on Saturday because that was leftover day and they could enjoy all her creations from the previous week. Despite her skill, she did have a mishap or two, like the time she mistook pancake batter for gravy and made stew out of it. Bernice and Mike cared for five toy poodles over the years. Their most recent resident was named Penny and she was the friendliest of the bunch. Bernice loved being with Penny and the feeling was mutual.

Bernice's son Will honored his parents by having a Tropicana rose bush at some of his homes through out the years. The roses were a testament to Bernice's ability to see hope in the midst of suffering, the blossoms revealing the beauty that comes from patient, loving care. Bernice leaves her family with the example of a woman who worked hard to fulfill her responsibilities, found joy in the intricacies of a flower, and loved her family beyond measure. Her influence to appreciate the beauty in ordinary things will continue to be felt for years to come.

Bernice Loftus died June 12, 2006, at Bronson Methodist Hospital. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters and five brothers, Loretta Bandt, Della Knoblaugh, Carl, Norbert, Clarence, Gerhert and Otto Brandtmueller. She is survived by her husband, Mike; four children, William (Linda) Loftus of Elkhart, Indiana, Timothy (Cindy) Loftus of Sanford, North Carolina, Gregory (Conny) Loftus of Castle Rock, Colorado, and Diane Loftus of Kalamazoo; two grandchildren, Jon (Christy) Loftus of Mishawaka, Indiana, and Matthew Loftus of Cassopolis, Michigan; one great-granddaughter, Emma; three sisters and two brothers, Louise Tinsley of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Marcella Berkey of Lake Placid, Florida, Bernadine Leiter of Warsaw, Indiana, Herman (Dorothy) Bradtmueller of Johnson City, Tennessee, and William Bradtmueller of Newton, North Carolina; one sister-and-law, Joann Bradtmueller of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, June 15, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral. Food and fellowship will follow at the Fr. Crowley Cathedral Center. Private interment will take place at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Please visit Bernice's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a favorite memory, sign the online guest book, or make a memorial contribution to the American Rose Society.