Bernice Virginia Lewandowski

Bernice V. Lewandowski passed away peacefully with her family at her bedside late Thursday (March 24th) night. She was 91. Hers was a life devoted to family: a loving mother, a wonderful Busia, and a devoted “Aunt Bert” to her many nieces and nephews.

Bernice was one of nine children born to Stanly and Frances (Portala) Napierala. She grew up “out the farms” during the Great Depression and World War II. She attended Burnham School.

In 1950, she married Eugene S. Lewandowski and they had five children. Bernice worked a variety of jobs including 20 years for the state of Ohio as an OSHA consultant. She inspected a wide range of businesses – grain elevators, steel mills, manufacturing plants, etc. She wrote long reports setting out recommendations for workers’ safety improvements.

Bernice was a great organizer: whether managing a household, running the cake booth at the Regina Coeli Church festival, or the chicken dinner at the St. Clement parish festival.

She loved to bake. She was known for her Polish coffee cakes and her chocolate chip chiffon cake. The chiffon cake was a staple at every family gathering. Her children imagine her baking her cake in heaven after learning the news of her own upcoming funeral.

Bernice was preceded in death by her husband and parents and two sons, Leonard and Robert, and her beloved grandson, Jakub Molinski. She was also preceded in death by her brothers John, Daniel, Joseph, and Roman and her sisters Lucille (Fritz), Marie (Pawlaczyk), Helen (Slomowicz), and Dorothy (Weckle).

She is survived by sons David (Audrey Keirns) and Stephen, daughter Judith Ann Molinski and daughter-in-law Penny Lewandowski. Busia also leaves behind five grandsons, Lance Lewandowski (Danita), Matthew Lewandowski (Vivian Lori), Joseph Molinski (Bridgette Brett), John Paul Lewandowski (Amanda), and Eugene Lewandowski, nine great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren, as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Monday, March 28 from 3-8 p.m. at Sujkowski Funeral Home Northpointe, 114 E. Alexis Rd. where members of the Regina Coeli Altar Rosary Society will lead a rosary at 6 p.m. Funeral services will begin Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home and continue with the Funeral Mass in Regina Coeli Church at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Northwest Ohio and Comfort Keepers for the gentle and loving care they provided for the last several weeks. Condolences may be shared at www.sujkowski.com.