Obituary: Bernice Evelyn (Meyer) Cade

Published 12:15 am Friday, April 12, 2024

Bernice Evelyn (Meyer) Cade, of Gearhart, passed away Dec. 15, 2023, while residing in Palm Desert, California.

She was born June 24, 1931, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to Frank and Frances Meyer. She lived in Minnesota through most of her grade school years. She was the third of the Meyers’ seven children, and the last surviving family member. While in grade school, she and her family moved to Portland. She graduated in 1949 from Portland’s Immaculata Academy.

Bernice married Edmund R. Cade in 1950 in Portland, and together they built a loving life that grew to having eight children and their families. In 1959, they moved first to San Leandro, California, then to Southern California, where they were members of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Altadena.

In 1968, they moved to Bellevue, Washington, and then to Redmond, Washington. In the 1970s and 1980s, she worked part time in the book department of Bellevue’s Frederick & Nelson department store, where she took full advantage of her employee discount, and thoroughly enjoyed having her children stop by.

When needed, she demonstrated her commitment to family by having her youngest sister join the family in the late 1950s, and then by helping to raise three nephews in the 1970s.

In 1995, Ed retired, and in 1997 they moved to Gearhart, where they were active members of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Seaside.

Bernice loved cooking meals for her growing family, playing cards, playing golf (getting a hole-in-one at Sahalee Country Club!), going for walks on the beach and being outside in her garden.

She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing the hymns at Mass. Her home was known for having beautiful flower arrangements and hosting many large gatherings of family and friends.

She greatly enjoyed reading books by a warm fire and visiting with people. She and Ed always made sure that there was room at the dining table for one more.

She spent much of her time volunteering at Our Lady of Victory, and working in the parish office. She was also a lector and Eucharistic minister. Sundays would find her helping out at the Sunday supper, serving over 130 families or delivering meals to folks who could not get out of their home.

Bernice’s husband of 68 years passed away in January 2019.

She is survived by her brother-in-law, Ron Orlikowski, and her sister-in-law, Merna Meyer. She is also survived by her eight children: Damian (Janie), Joseph (Sharon), Matthew (Carol), Susan (Jim), Amy (Bill), Thomas (Susan), Jennifer (John) and Michael (Sonja). She was blessed with many nieces and nephews, 18 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Bernice’s name to either Able Hospice Inc., 41990 Cook St., Suite 2004, Building F, Palm Desert, CA., 92211 or Sunday Supper, Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 120 Oceanway, Seaside, OR., 97138.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on April 20 at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 333 S.W. Skyline Blvd. in Portland.

We will celebrate her life on July 20 in Gearhart; the location has yet to be determined.