"Becky" Pernice, passed away peacefully on Dec. 6, 2012, at Bronson Hospital, surrounded by her family. Becky was born June 21, 1932, in Indianapolis, to Richard H. and Madge (Leamon) Strickland of Greenfield.
Becky graduated from Greenfield High School in 1950, as her class valedictorian. She went on to attend Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., class of 1954, and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Later in life, she was an enthusiastic winter scholar at Gulf Coast Community College in Port St. Joe, Fla.
In 1952, Becky married Ralph L. Pernice, formerly of Greenfield, and now of Augusta, Mich. After spending time in both Chicago and Texas, Becky and Ralph moved to Kalamazoo in Nov. 1955. Becky worked for many years in bookkeeping at several local businesses. She served as President with the Kalamazoo Service Club, and on the boards of the Pretty Lake Vacation Camp, and the Kalamazoo Humane Society. She also served as a Girl Scout leader, and a vocal and devoted supporter of her children’s AYSO soccer teams.
Becky was an avid traveler throughout the continental United States, as well as several foreign countries. She was especially fond of St. George Island and Cape San Blas in the Panhandle of Florida, where she and Ralph spent numerous winter months. She was passionate about antiques and architecture, and later in life, bird watching. She will be remembered for her kindness, keen sense of humor, love of Coca-Cola, Russell Stovers, reading, and HGTV, and was an Anglophile through and through. Most importantly she will be remembered for the love she showed her family each and every day.
Becky is survived by her devoted husband of over 60 years, Ralph; daughter, Laura Pernice (David Lundin) of Champion, Mich.; son, Jason Pernice (Kay Thanaporn) of Decatur, Ga.; and eternal-son-in-law John Nemeth (Rachel) of Elkhart, Ind.; three nephews, Tom (Joyce) Strickland, and Tim Strickland of Greenfield, and Matt (Nancy) Strickland of Fortville; a grandniece; two grandnephews; and two great- grandnieces; many cousins, near and far; and dear friends too numerous to count.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Robert H. Strickland; and sister-in-law, Margot (Harrison) Strickland.
A memorial gathering will take place at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, in Kalamazoo, Mich., at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St. Visitation will occur at Stillinger Family Funeral Home, 1780 W. Main Street, Greenfield, Indiana. The day and times will be shown on the Stillinger website, after Sunday, December 9th. Private interment will follow at Park Cemetery, Greenfield.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Pretty Lake Vacation Camp in Mattawan, Michigan, your local Humane Society, or the Hancock County Public Library, Greenfield, Indiana.
