CONCORD, NH — Bernice Kiefer Hanson died peacefully on January 23, 2021 at the age of 91 in Concord, NH. She was born on December 29, 1929 in Staten Island, NY.
Bernice graduated with a B.S. Degree in Chemistry from Wagner College and obtained her Master’s in Education from Kean College. After her children were older, she began a career in elementary school science education. She was a Science Specialist with the Morris School District, Morris County, NJ for 27 years. In addition, as the K-6 Science Staff Assistant Bernice directed and coordinated the science program for the District’s six elementary schools which received the NJ State Excellency Award for Science Curriculum in 1985. She also co-authored a laboratory series of ten science workbooks with guides published by McGraw Hill.
Bernice was passionate about education and learning, and shared her thirst for knowledge with all who would listen. This included infusing the family dinner conversation with lessons in new vocabulary words and current events. She was inquisitive and adventurous, traveling whenever she could. She applied for and was awarded the Geraldine Dodge Foundation Grant for geological study of the Hawaiian Islands.
The death of her father at a young age impacted Bernice significantly. She learned early on to live life fully with many interests and hobbies. Among them was her love of wildlife and animals. She was known to care for a rescued fledgling hoot owl and baby raccoon and to manage a student rotation of guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits. She also adored her Great Dane dogs, each much larger than she was, but of a similar gregarious nature. Bernice regularly cultivated her cooking, baking and crafting skills, gathering family for holiday celebrations, making gifts and baking cookies. And she appreciated her many friendships as well, including their shared activities in a sorority, more-social-than-serious couple’s bridge club and a theatre group which attended Broadway performances. After retiring to Grantham, NH in 1999, Bernice enjoyed volunteering at the Mary-Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover and her involvement in the local Red Hat Society.
She is survived by her daughter Candace and husband Gerry, son Geoffrey and wife Deborah, and daughter Linda and husband Jack. She is also survived by granddaughters Maria and Danielle, nieces Anne and Cathy, nephew Marty, and a number of cousins. She is predeceased by her loving husband of 38 years, Everett, her grandson, Keith, and brother, Martin.
She left us with loving memories of a strong role-model, a positive spirit with a warm heart, and a big embracing hug. She will be missed immensely. A celebration of life and interment are being planned for this spring at Moravian Cemetery, Staten Island.