Obituary of Bernice Ann Deagle

Bernice Ann Grace was born May 13, 1927 in Scott, SK, to parents Patrick and Theresa Grace. In 1934, they left their farm in Handel, SK and moved to Edmonton, AB due to the depression.

Following her high school graduation in 1946, she enrolled in the Edmonton General Nursing program. She completed her training in 1949, and moved to Consort to begin her career as a Registered Nurse. 

In 1951, she married Maurice Deagle and they spent a year in Edmonton, with Bernice working at the Misericordia Hospital in the ‘case room’ (labour & delivery unit), and Maurice working in a warehouse and traveling back to Consort to tend to the farm. They returned to Consort in the summer of 1952, and that fall their daughter, Cathy was born. 

Over the next 10 years, they welcomed 5 more children into their family; Dennis in 1953, Anne in 1955, Pat in 1958, Rick in 1959, and Maggie in 1961. 

Bernice worked at the Consort Hospital as a Registered Nurse, and later as the Director of Nursing. She loved being a nurse, it was a core piece of her identity. Her children remember her being picked up on a skidoo when a blizzard had made the roads impassable, and banging down the hallway in the middle of the night, half-asleep but coming to the rescue of a late night birth or trauma case. 

She was a fierce patient advocate and a keen researcher, always trying to make sure the community of Consort had access to the most up-to-date medical information and procedures. She would leave textbooks open to certain procedures or diagnoses in an effort to “gently guide” the doctor in the right direction. She never backed down from a challenge when she believed that what she was fighting for was right, no matter the cost. 

Unbeknownst to her family for many years, Bernice battled with Multiple Sclerosis. She never let on that she wasn't feeling well, until symptoms exacerbated by stress forced her into an early retirement from the job she loved so very much. 

In addition to her many years working as a nurse, she also tended a large garden, helped on the farm, cooked meals for her family, which included her legendary 'air buns', and raised her six children. Bernice and Maurice loved to dance and relished their time as part of the dance/social club in Consort. 

The early nineties were a challenging time for Bernice, first with her diagnosis of breast cancer, and then the passing of her beloved Maurice on December 29, 1995. However, like all challenges she faced in her life, she was steadfast in her faith and carried on with tenacity and love. She was fiercely independent and raised a family of strong women, and men who love them.

She loved large family gatherings and having her grandchildren over for card games and treats. She loved hearing stories of the goings-on in everyone's life, and looking at photographs and reminiscing about of her loved ones and her time as a nurse.

So much of who Bernice was lives on in not only her children, but her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A voracious appetite for knowledge, a love of reading, stubbornness beyond measure, quick wit, a tenacious spirit, a love for family, and a commitment to making a difference. 

Bernice spent the last few years of her life in the Provost Long Term Care. But, due to her dementia, she thought she was there as a nurse, not a resident. She was so happy to be reliving her nursing ward days, and spent her days snoozing and her nights up at the desk with the rest of the nursing staff, checking charts and doing rounds on patients. 

On behalf of her family and loved ones, we want to extend our gratitude to the incredible staff in Provost, who loved her as one of their own, allowed her to be a part of their work family, complete with a name badge, whist never complaining about her poking her nose into their work or pinching them to get them up and moving.

Bernice passed away peacefully on July 15, 2024, at the Provost Health Centre – Long Term Care at the age of 97 years, with loved ones at her side.

She will be forever missed and lovingly remembered by her children, Cathy (Frank) Van Humbeck, Dennis (Cheryl) Deagle, Anne (Grant) Armstrong, Pat (Trish) Deagle, Rick (Marilynn ⴕ) Deagle, and Maggie (John) Baier; grandchildren, Joe (Kristie), Jeff (Alyson), Jenna, Chris, Heather (Justin), Jon (Sarah), Jordan (Madeline), Kevin, Brad (Carley), Amy, Renée (Clay), Trevor (Danica), Pam, and Natasha (Joe); great grandchildren, Laurel, Ted, Elliott, Sophie, Reid, Evelyn, Aubrey, Cooper, Rayelle, Noelle, Davyn, Quinton, and Carolynn; as well as numerous other nieces, nephews, and relatives.

Bernice was predeceased by her husband, Maurice; daughter in law, Marilynn Deagle; grandson, Nicholas Baier; and brothers, Dennis Grace and Jack (Frances) Grace.

A funeral mass will be held on Monday, July 22, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church in Consort, Alberta. Interment to follow at the Corpus Christi Cemetery.

Gregory’s Funeral Home Inc.

www.gregorysfuneralhomes.com