EARLVILLE – Bernice E. Holt, 90, lifetime resident of Earlville and Sherburne, passed away Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 at the Community Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility, Hamilton.
She was born Feb. 9, 1920 in South Hamilton, a daughter of the late Raymond C. and Martha D. Stone Excell, and attended local schools. On June 24, 1939, Bernice married Harold A. Holt in East Hamilton. He predeceased her on July 23, 1964. Bernice was a loving mother and homemaker whose life was devoted to raising her family. She was an active member of the Christian Baptist Church in Sherburne where she taught Sunday school and was the “Sunshine Lady.” She was also a poet whose religious poems were recently compiled in a book titled Fountains of Praise.
Surviving are her children, Jo Ann and Albert Gray of Houston, TX; Janice Holt of Earlville; Judy and Warren Dunbar of Canastota; Jinene and Alan Clark of Earlville; Brenda and James Stone of Sherburne; Brian and Jackie Holt of Earlville; and John Holt of the Philippines; fourteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter, Parysis; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by an infant son and daughter, Rodney and Theresa, two sons, Barry Holt in 1945 and Richard “Ricky” Holt in 1963; and two sisters, Beverly Marcellus and Beatrice Baker.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday from the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 3 Preston St., Earlville.
Spring interment will be in the Graham Cemetery, Hubbardsville.
Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Wednesday, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 7, East Syracuse, NY 13057, www.cancer.org ; to Autism Speaks, 1 East 33rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016 www.autismspeaks.org.; or to the American Heart Assoc., PO Box 417005, Boston, MA  02241-7005, www.americanheart.org.     
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.