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01/09/2017 - Bernice DeSersa-Janis
Funeral services for Bernice DeSersa-Janis, age 88, will be at 10:00 AM (MT) on Monday, January 9, 2017 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Hall in Pine Ridge, SD with Charles McGaa and Reverend Rhoda Mesteth officiating.
Burial will be at 1:30 PM on Monday, January 9, 2017 at the Black HillsNationalCemetery in Sturgis, SD.
Bernice DeSersa-Janis in her 88th year of life left this earthly world on January 2, 2017 to join those who have gone before her. She was a long-time resident on the Yakama Reservation in Toppenish, WA. Mom/Grandma was surrounded by her loving children and thakozas (grandchildren). She was born on September 27, 1928 to Alex DeSersa and Angelique Turning Holy-Hand Soldier in Allen, SD. She was a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe and received her early education on the Pine Ridge Reservation, graduating in 1946 from OglalaCommunitySchool. She went on to pursue a nursing degree in LawtonIndianHospital in Oklahoma. After receiving a nursing degree, she traveled to the Northwest to work at the Cushman Indian Boarding School/Hospital in Tacoma, WA. Bernice returned to the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1948 to start a nursing career at the Indian Health Service (IHS) Hospital, providing 30 years of service for the tribal community. Following her IHS career, she went on to work as the school nurse at PineRidgeElementary School.
She met Curtis Edward Janis, and they married on May 17, 1950 after he received his honorable discharge from the Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. They started their family, raising five children, a niece, and a nephew.
After his death in 1980, Bernice moved to the Yakama Reservation to live with her oldest son, Ted Janis. While in the Northwest, she was an active member of the Toppenish American Legion and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles and enjoyed spending time at Legends Casino. She so enjoyed spending time with her family and treasured the moments with her thakozas. Those daily calls from her daughter Beverly in Oklahoma were special to her.
Bernice is survived by children Ted (Janet) Janis, Beverly (Ron) Wermy, and Ronald and Cody Janis; thakozas Craig Russell, Chad Wayne, Curtis Edward Janis, Angie (Kenneth) Wermy-Williams, Billy Joel Janis, Braydan and Chantz Janis; 14 great-thakozas; great-great-thakoza Lil Braxton Janis; nephew David DeSersa; niece LaDean (Patrick) Chapman; and very dear friend Maxine, the mother to her grandchildren, Craig, Chad, and Curtis Janis.
Bernice was preceded in death by husband Curtis Edward Janis Sr.; mother Angelique; father Alex; brother Russell DeSersa; sister Delphine Taylor; son Curtis “Bill” Janis Jr.; grandsons Lil Ronnie Wermy Jr., Jarrod Whistler-Janis, Joshua Janis, and Alex DeSersa; and granddaughter Leona Janis.
Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD is in charge of arrangements for Bernice DeSersa-Janis.
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