Florence C. Berni

Florence C. Berni, 89, of Dennison, Ohio, passed away on Friday, October 7, 2011 at Trinity Twin City Hospital in Dennison after a recent illness. Born in Uhrichsville, Ohio on January 11, 1922, she was a daughter of the late Silvio J. “Charles” and Adella J. (Gasparetti) Ruffini.

On August 26, 1947, Florence married John A. Berni with whom she enjoyed over forty-one years of marriage until his passing on January 28, 1989. They were blessed with two children, Mary A. Grimm and her husband, Robert A., of Dennison and Vincent J. Berni and his wife, Kendra S., also of Dennison; four grandchildren, David V. Grimm and his wife, Patricia A., of North Canton, Jeannette M. Meiser and her husband, Christopher S., of New Philadelphia, Lisa A. Berni, a student of Ohio Northern University, and her fiancé, Scott Wirth, and John V. Berni, a student of Ohio Northern University; and five great grandchildren, Maria C. and Matthew T. Meiser of New Philadelphia and Jeremy R., Eric F., and Carrie A. Grimm of North Canton. Florence is also survived by many extended family members whom she held dear including nieces, nephews, in-laws, and cousins. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Rosa; six brothers, Lawrence, Floyd, Louis, William, John, and Joseph Ruffini; and two infant brothers.

Florence was a lifelong Twin City resident who attended Uhrichsville High School in her youth. She was a faithful member of Immaculate Conception Church and its Altar Society in Dennison throughout her life and drew great pleasure from volunteering at the church, its elementary school, and its events, especially enjoying taking care of the pizza booth and the kiddie carnival at the annual parish festival. She was also active in the Twin City V.F.W. Ladies’ Auxiliary, having served as its chaplain for a number of years. In addition to being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker, she spent several decades operating the John Berni Grocery, along with her husband, continuing until shortly after his death in 1989.

Services for Florence, officiated by Father Anthony Lonzo, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 11, in Immaculate Conception Church at Dennison. Interment will follow beside her beloved husband in St. Mary’s Cemetery near Dennison. Family and friends are invited to call from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday at the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home in Dennison with a Christian Wake Service held at 7:45 p.m. that evening. In keeping with Florence’s wishes, charitable contributions are encouraged to Immaculate Conception Church’s Memorial Book Fund or Cemetery Fund, and to Immaculate Conception Elementary, in lieu of flowers.
R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, Inc.
(740) 922-1970
www.lindseyfh.com