Bernice Rhodes Massa, 1914-2009

Quad City Times - 18 July 2009

------------------------

 SILVIS, Ill. — Florence Bernice Massa, 95, died Friday, July 17, 2009, at Rosewood Care Center, Moline. She lived in Silvis Heights, Silvis, for 60 years.

  Services will be 2 p.m. Monday, July 20, 2009, at Schroder Mortuary, Silvis. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in Rose Lawn Memorial Estates, Moline. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, East Moline, or to Rosewood Nursing Home.

Florence Bernice Rhodes Massa

  Florence Bernice Massa was born April 9, 1914, in Plano, Iowa, to Charles and Ella Blanche (Swan) Rhodes. Bernice graduated in 1922 from Promise City High School in Promise City, Iowa. Before her marriage she was a domestic for a family in Centerville, Iowa. On August 9, 1941, she married Joeking Massa in Unionville, Missouri. He died in May 1991. She was a member of First Baptist Church, East Moline. Her faith was quiet, but constant and strong.
  Bernice was an accomplished seamstress. Along with sewing and altering for her children and grandchildren, she did altering for friends. Her other hobbies included crocheting, embroidering and reading poetry from her many poetry books. She had been a 4-H leader when her children were young and was in a Bunco club with neighbors for over 40 years. Bernice was a wonderful cook and had favorites of her children. Her special candy bowl was always nearby for all visitors to her home.
  Bernice is survived by children, Charles ( Mary Lou) Massa, Silvis, Ellagene Rosenberry, Elkhart, Indiana, Joan (Don) Strunk, Centerville, Iowa, and Connie (Bob) Jacob, Bettendorf, Iowa; grandchildren, Mark (Lisa) Massa, John (Gina) Massa, Kristin (Rob) Davis, Mike (Barb) Rosenberry, Donna (John) Hoogenboom, Jill (Greg) Churchill, Gloria (Kyle) Gordon, Darrell (Jeri) Strunk, Colleen (Jonathan) Greko, and Rob (Denise) Jacob; 21 great grandchildren; sisters, Margaret Rowan, Centerville, Iowa, and Coy (Tom) Sorak, Ottumwa, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews both locally and out-of-town.
  Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Joeking, brother, Charles, and sisters, Ilene (Mike) Strunk, Ruth Humphreys, and June Leach.
  The family wishes to thank the Rosewood staff for the wonderful and loving care they g ave Bernice and Heartland Hospice for excellent and loving care they provided.

---------------------------

Editor's Notes

  Her husband, Joeking Massa, was born 14 January 1916 in Jerome, Appanoose County, Iowa, son of Dominick Massa and Anna Giancomelli, died 17 May 1991, and was buried in Rose Lawn Memorial Estates, Moline, Illinois.