Bernita Fedewa

In a fast-paced world where it seems as though life's daily hassles consume much of our time, so few are the people that really take the time to embrace the hearts of their family and friends. Bernita Mary Fedewa is one of those people who, no matter what was happening around her, never forgot to bask in the joy of everyday life. She found so much happiness in being a wife, mother, grandmother and teacher, and took great pleasure in sharing her knowledge and happiness with those around her, especially her students. Bernita always took the time to remember and, more importantly, to care.

The year 1917, long before southwestern Michigan was dissected by highways, and subdivisions and shopping malls covered the landscape, was a time when prairie grass grew far and wide and oak trees outnumbered people. At the dawn of the twentieth century, farming was the mainstay of the rural communities that began springing up across these fertile grasslands in southern Lower Michigan. One of these areas was Clinton County, now part of Lansing, Michigan, and the home of Oscar M. and Dorthea “Dora” (Wohlsheid) Cook. Oscar was a farmer, growing crops of corn, wheat and oats, and raising cattle. He and Dora were both anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child. On July 20, 1917, they welcomed the first of their thirteen children, a beautiful baby girl they named Bernita Mary.

From a very young age, Bernita loved learning and approached each new day with an eagerness to grasp whatever came her way. She learned how to milk cows so she could help her father. Being the oldest meant many responsibilities, and Bernita was always willing to work hard. She learned about birds from her mother, and developed a life-long love of nature. She was a strong-willed girl and very organized, two traits that would stand her in good stead later in life.

Bernita attended St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Pewamo, Michigan, and was naturally a good student. She maintained her good grades while still helping out the family, which was very close. In 1935, She graduated from Pewamo High School and continued her education at Clinton County Normal School of St. Johns, earning her teaching certificate in 1936. She also studied at Central Michigan University.

For the first four years Bernita taught at local rural schools, one of them being the one-room Schafer School in Dallas Township. But when her mother died in 1946, Bernita stayed at home to help her father care for her siblings until he remarried. That same year, while attending church, she met a handsome young farmer named Walter Fedewa. Their love slowly blossomed as they dated for the next three years, and on October 22, 1949, they became husband and wife.

Bernita and Walter were perfect for each other. They both enjoyed dancing and especially enjoyed getting together with their friends. Bernita would often play the piano while one of their friends played the guitar. One difference was that Bernita loved to travel and Walt liked to stay home, but they always managed to compromise. Over the next several years they became parents to three wonderful boys, John, Donald and Gerard. Bernita was devastated when Donald was hit by a car and killed at the tender age of sixteen.

When the boys grew older, Bernita went back to teaching and from 1956 to 1963 she taught at the St. John the Baptist School in Hubbardston. In 1963 she began a new career at Most Holy Trinity School in Fowler, retiring in 1982. Bernita loved teaching and sharing her knowledge with her students. Retiring from teaching school did not mean that she retired from teaching. For the next 25 years, Bernita taught piano lessons in her home. Yet, as busy as she was, she found time to relax and enjoy the quieter things in life. She, of course, enjoyed playing the piano, and continued her bird watching, a hobby started when she was a young girl. She had been a member of the Mid-Michigan Audubon Society for many years, a number of those years serving as president. With her love of nature, she spent hours gardening and always had time for her spiritual reading. Bernita had been a member of the St. Joseph Parish in Pewamo all her life, and sang in the choir, served as the choir director and was a member of the Altar Society.

In 1988, Bernita’s life was forever changed. On August 18 of that year, her beloved Walter died from multiple illnesses. In spite of Walter’s death, Bernita maintained her positive outlook on life with the help of her family and her faith. Although a somewhat serious person, she always had a smile on her face. She kept herself busy enjoying her travels and took special pleasure in walking through the trilliums in the spring.

No matter what, Bernita was always generous with the time she had for people. Throughout her life, she was a very strong woman, yet she was kind and considerate, earning her the love and admiration of her family and friends and, with her passing, the fond memories of all who knew her. She began suffering from the effects of Alzheimer’s in 2008, and from that point on, her health started to decline. Bernita Mary Fedewa passed away on Tuesday, June 15, 2010. She is with her Lord.

Bernita is survived by her sons, John and Gerard, daughter-in-law Liduina and grandson Orry, all of Pewamo; her sister, Dorothy Golata of Lansing, Ella Thelen of Williamston, Marcia Cook of Ionia, and Jenny (Robert) Weber of Cincinnati, Ohio; her brothers, James (Jean) Cook of Lansing, Donald (Barbara) Cook of Lansing, Roy (Dolores) Cook of Fenwick, and Leon (Jeanne) Cook of Lansing. Bernita was also the proud aunt of forty-nine nieces and nephews.

Bernita was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother, Bernita Schrauben Cook, son, Donald J. Fedewa, daughter-in-law, Lesley Daman Fedewa, Lesley’s parents, Fred and the late Marguerite Daman, David Cook, her brother, sisters, Angela Coonrod, Isabelle Wilson, and Cay De Young, brothers-in-law, Joseph Coonrod, Donald Wilson, Jake De Young, Alvin Thelen, and John Golata.

A Funeral Mass for Bernita will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Pewamo, Friday, June 18, 2010, at 11:00 a.m., with Fr. Charlon Mason officiating, burial at St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church, Wednesday, and Thursday, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with rosaries Wednesday, 3 p.m., and 8 p.m., Thursday at 3 p.m., and a Vigil Service on Thursday at 8 p.m. Besides masses, the family suggest memorials be made to St. Joseph School Trust Fund Pewamo. Please visit Bernita’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or sign the online guest book.