Bernita Faye Goodrow Hemenover, 86, a resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at the Life Care Center in Mount Vernon with her daughters and a granddaughter, Becky and Russ Waite at her side. She had been in failing health for the past several months.
She was born on September 3, 1921 in New Underwood, South Dakota the daughter of Pastor William W. and Tinnie C. Coop Goodrow. There were 5 girls and 5 boys.
The family moved to Orting, WA then to Lopez Island where the younger children grew up. Bernita went off the Island to graduate from Sedro-Woolley High School with the class of 1939. She attended Seattle Pacific University and graduated from the Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing as a registered nurse in 1943. Bernita joined the U.S. Army Corps of Nurses in 1945 and was discharge as WWII ended. She then worked at Sedro-Woolley Memorial Hospital for several years.
She was united in marriage to Frank N. Hemenover on April 26, 1947 by her father, Pastor William Goodrow, who had married all of his children. Frank and Bernita had 2 daughters, Kathleen and Karen and a son, Larry.
The family resided in Sedro-Woolley until moving to Silverdale, WA in 1952 where Frank worked as a patternmaker and Bernita worked as an R.N. at Harrison Memorial Hospital in Bremerton. The family lived on a small farm and worked hard keeping livestock and a garden.
Frank retired in 1972 and they moved to Camano Island where they could be near the water and their children. Frank passed away in February of 1980 and Bernita moved to Burlington, later moving to Sedro-Woolley where was active in the Baptist Church, the Senior Center, Red Hats, the SWHS class of 1939 and the Sedro-Woolley Alumni Association.
During the 1980’s & 90’s Bernita enjoyed traveling; she went to Egypt, the Holy Lands, Europe, Australia, Hawaii, Alaska and to many of the continental United States.
Mom always gave of herself as a nurse at the hospital or nursing a friend of a loved one back to health, or comforting them in the dying process. She was a devout Christian, living an honorable life. She loved the congregation of her church, especially the Sunday school class.
Often she would reminisce about her family and growing up on Lopez Island. Special memories were taking the little rowboat out on Fisherman’s Bay and reading a good book. Her favorite place was in an upstairs window. She was a veracious reader.
She is survived by her children, Kathleen Haney and her husband, Jim of Clallam Bay, WA, Karen Wilson and her companion, Russ Waite of Clear Lake and Larry Hemenover of Warren, Idaho. 6 grandchildren and their spouses, David & Debbie Needham, Geoff & Dani Needham, Becky & Gene Heerspink, Loren & Serena Mynatt, Erin Hemenover and her companion Alfredo and Caleb Hemenover. 16 great-grandchildren, Carter, Brittany, Kassy, Paityn, Xander, Andrew, Wyatt, Savannah, Kailey, Kenzie, Reece, Bryce, Fernando, Joe, Tristan and Andy. Sisters, Faith Parr and Alda Gray; sisters-in-laws, Vera Goodrow, Dorthea Goodrow, Marguerite Goodrow, Ona Jean Goodrow & Mary Perry, and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Frank in 1980; 2 sisters, Hester and Bernice; 5 brothers, Hilton, Bryon, Dwayne, Dwight and Forrest; 2 sons-in-law, Dennis Needham and Robert Wilson and her parents-in-laws.
Memorials are suggested to the Sedro-Woolley Alumni Association or a charity of your choice.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, October 15, 2007 at 2:00 PM at Lemley Chapel, followed by interment with Military Honors at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.