Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 10/25/2000

Bernice C. Norton

Sept. 12, 1907 - Oct. 22, 2000

Bernice C. Norton, 93, of the Healthwin Specialized Care Facility, died at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22, in Healthwin.

Mrs. Norton was the last surviving member of the pioneering Kintz family in Clay Township. She was born on Sept. 12, 1907, in South Bend, Ind., to the late John and Edith (Slocum) Kintz. She was also preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters; and by a son, Donald Norton in 1996.

She had lived in the South Bend area most of her life. Mrs. Norton was a graduate of St. Joseph's Academy and Goshen College. She had been a teacher at the former Stuckey, Meadowbrook and Osceola schools, and ended her career as a first grade teacher at Pierre Navarre School from 1955 to 1973. She was also the first kindergarten teacher at the Circle of Mercy Day Nursery. She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church where she served as a Eucharistic minister, was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society, the Christ Child Society, Circle of Mercy Day Nursery Auxiliary, and the People of Praise. Among Bernice's interests were square dancing, gardening and traveling, as well as being a devoted mother and grandmother.

She is survived by a daughter, Barbara (Jack) Powers of South Bend; a son, John (Susan) Norton of South Bend; 14 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; and by a daughter-in-law, Ruth Ann Norton.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, in Holy Cross Catholic Church, with Rev. Steven Sedlock, C.S.C., officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today, Oct. 25, in the WELSHEIMER FUNERAL HOME NORTH, 17033 Cleveland Road, where a parish Rosary will be said at 4 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Christ Child Society, P.O. Box 1286, South Bend, IN 46624; or to the Circle of Mercy Day Nursery, 120 S. Taylor Street, South Bend, IN 46601.