Bernice Narus

On November 10, 1919, Bernice (Oldynski) Narus was born in Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania to Helen (Milewski) and Victor Oldynski. Bea grew up in coal mining country. Her father, a coal miner/farmer and mother, a superb homemaker, both with a very proud Polish heritage. Bea was a quiet, cotton topped, cutie whom escaped the antics of her older brothers, Walter and Charles and was later joined by little Helen (our Aunt Fritz). All family members have long preceded her in death. Her early schooling was in a strict Polish/Catholic School and a one-room school house until high school, but good education stayed with her all these years. Bea chose a career in Dietetics and worked at Geisinger Hospital, Danville, Pennsylvania and later in Polyclinic, Harrisburg. Later years as a still young widow Bea joined the State of Pennsylvania working in their government offices. Bea married Thomas Narus sometime in the later 1940?s and adopted a little girl-Ann Victoria in about 1957. Ann disappeared in 1980, while working for IBM and living in Las Vegas, no trace of her existence has ever been discovered. She was a bright young child and her growing up and young adult years were adventurous. Bea missed her dearly. We will mark her memory when Bea is put to rest in Pennsylvania. Bea had an excellent memory and delighted in knowing answers to crossword puzzles and trivia. She was a world traveler, with credits of trips to Spain, Hawaii, Russia, Ireland, France and many areas of the U.S. and Canada. Bea was also an artist. She has left behind some treasured oil paintings for the enjoyment of her loved family. In 1998 due to failing health, Bea, moved to Issaquah, Washington and then to Port Orchard, Washington to live with her Niece Anne (Oldwyn, Oldynski) Vukovich and her husband Chuck. Residing nearby were her Great Niece Jean and Great Nephew Allan, his wife Brenna and their son Robbie. Robbie loved his Great Great ?Auntie Bea?, he shared his books, toys, snacks and many hugs and kisses with her. Across the mountains in Wenatchee, her Nephew Bob and his wife Bonnie Oldwyn and their children Kaal and Jessica share more than an occasional visits and memories. They visited Bea both here and in Pennsylvania. Bob and his family helped make Bea?s extended Washington family all that more special. Bob brought back gifts, memories and stories of a distant relative living in Gdansk, Poland whom he visited on his trips. Blessings to Anna Sosnowski and her family for all their prayers and loving thoughts. Bea had a great passion for cats. Issy, whom she spoiled with great affection, guarded Bea with total devotion. All animals in the family would benefit from Bea?s kindness, as did we ? ?mere mortals?. A woman of great kindness, Bea never said a critical word about or to anyone over all the years I have known her. A lady was how we think of our Auntie Bea and will preserve that memory of her in every thought. We will gather at Paradise Meadow on Mt. Rainier to celebrate Bea?s life on a sunny weekend day in late September. A Polish sausage feast topped off with ice cream and more great foods will be shared while we tell all the stories we can remember, Mt. Rainier, was ?her mountain? and even on a cloudy day she would want to know which direction it was in when we were out driving. Her burial will be at a later date in Pennsylvania. Bea will never be forgotten as she brought a sense of strength, pride and grace as well as love and endurance, sometimes I the face of great personal challenge. May she be followed by kittens, cats and many little critters, as she wanders the fields of her new home. Remembrances to a charity of your choice.