The family invites you to watch the Celebration of Bernice's Life. Please click here

Bernice Simpson, age 89, late of Brandon, Manitoba, passed away on the Palliative Care Unit at the Brandon Regional Hospital on Monday, November 20th, 2023.

She was the youngest child of Arthur and Edith Burley of Brantford, Ontario. Bernice was predeceased by her brother Robert (Norma). Her sister, Beverley, currently lives in London, ON.

A funeral service was held Tuesday, November 28th at Memories Chapel in Brandon, MB with Rev. Craig Miller officiating. Interment followed at Neepawa cemetery where she was laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Ronald.

Pallbearers were Ronald Jones, Reese Jones, Bruce Wiebe, Shamus Menzies, Andrew MacKay, and TJ Graham. Interment was led by Memories Chapel Funeral Director, Lawana Spratt.

After completing high school, Bernice enrolled in the 3-year nurses' training program at the Brantford General Hospital. She graduated as a Registered Nurse in June of 1955. She worked on the maternity ward at Brantford Hospital primarily in the newborn and premature nurseries for 19 years before meeting her future husband, Ronald Simpson, of Brookdale, MB in March of 1974, when he was visiting relatives where she was boarding. They were married in the Brookdale United Church on November 9th, 1974. Bernice then became a farm wife and enjoyed participating in square dancing in Neepawa with Ronald and was also involved with the Brookdale UCW, assisting with community events by providing homemade pies and other baked goods. Bernice was well known for her love of cats and enjoyed many activities over the years, including trips to Montreal, London, and Brantford, to visit family and nursing friends. Bernice enjoyed keeping correspondence with her nursing colleagues and some of the mothers that she cared for, one of them being Phyllis Gretzky, mother of Wayne Gretzky. Her children often joked with her that this was her "claim to fame". Bernice and Ronald attended many nursing reunions in Brantford.

Ronald retired from active farming in 1994 and they continued to live on the farm until 2008. They then moved to Monterey Estates in Brandon.

Bernice leaves to mourn, her son Charles (Connie), her daughters Sharon (James) and Irene; 5 grandchildren, Karen, Emily, Shamus, Cameron and Matthew and 3 great grandchildren; her sister Beverley Rath of London, ON and her 4 daughters Lark, Holly, Robin and Carla, and their extended families; Nephew Arthur, nieces, Anne and Brenda (children of her late brother Robert), and their extended families; her sister-in-law Grace Jones (Reginald) and her 4 children; Bruce (Trudy), Ronald (Jacquie), Susan (Bruce), and Kathleen (Gene), and their extended families.

Donations in memory of Bernice may be made to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, Palliative Care, 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, MB R7A 2B3 or the Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7.