Bernice Arlene De Young of New Sharon passed away on August 7, 2020 at Mahaska Health Partnership Hospital in Oskaloosa, at the age of 91. Funeral services will begin at 2:00 pm Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in New Sharon. Burial will be held in the Highland Cemetery in New Sharon. Visitation will begin after 12:00 pm Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at the funeral home with the family present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Holland-Coble Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Bernice was born February 24, 1929, in the family home in Oskaloosa, the only child of Joe J. and Gertrude (Rempe) Vander Heiden. She attended the Oskaloosa public schools.  Known as "Pete" to her friends and family, she was her dad's little buddy and accompanied him to work at his International Harvester tractor dealership. There she made lots of friends and learned some interesting words from the guys in the shop.  She graduated with the Oskaloosa class of 1947. Following graduation, she worked in the office of the Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce.

Mutual friends introduced her to an army boy who had recently returned from the service, Wesley Jay "Red" De Young.  They were married May 1, 1950, and moved into the home in New Sharon that she had designed and he and his brothers had built. As an only child, she took joy in joining Red's family of eight brothers and sisters. Bernice and Red had two sons, Jay D. and Lee A. De Young. Bernice loved life and loved her family.  She was an exemplary wife, mother and homemaker.  She learned to cook on the job, so to speak, and was a deft hand as a seamstress.  She had a great love of flowers and flower arranging, often exhibiting displays at local shows.

She was always willing to jump in and participate in family activities - gardening, steaming off old wallpaper in houses Red was remodeling, stitching up upholstery in antique cars, driving tractors and carrying bales of hay to feed cattle on the farm, vacationing and camping - even a couple of road trips to Mexico City, Mexico.  If Red was there, she was there.

In April 5, 1977 Red passed away following a struggle with cancer.  Bernice bravely carried on, dedicated to providing a steady hand for her sons. She worked as a teacher's aide at North Mahaska Elementary School and often was a chaperone on senior class trips to Washington, DC.  She next became a secretary-receptionist at the South-Central Mental Health Center in Oskaloosa. Her work there brought her into contact with people of all kinds, with all sorts of problems. By her kindness and helpfulness, she created a welcoming atmosphere for people in distress. She retired in 2002, after 19 years of service.

Bernice possessed a quiet but profound Christian Faith which carried her through the trials of life.  She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of New Sharon and served as a ruling elder for several years.  Naturally, she did the flower arraignments. In recent years she was involved with her sons renovating and operating rental houses. Her sense of style and color were true assets - and her skill at painting along the edges of wood trim with her favorite 3/8-inch artist's brush was amazing.

In her mid-80's she became proficient in using the internet and Facebook where she enjoyed sending notes and comments to friends and family. Bernice experienced numerous health issue late in her life.  She faced them all with faith, courage and determination.  She had several short stays in care centers for rehabilitation and recovery, but was always worked to improve and get back to her home and to her kitties.

Bernice is survived by her sons, Jay of New Sharon, Iowa, and Lee (& Elizabeth Duch-De Young) of Park Ridge, Illinois; a sister-in-law, Ruby De Young of Union Mills, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.  She also leaves behind her feline buddies Baby, Reecy and the Red Devil.