BERNICE VRANA (nee PINSKY) 87 years was not enough time for family and friends to know and love Bernice (87 ½ she would correctly remind you). She was the epitome of good health and most believed she would see the other side of 100. But it wasn’t to be. A medical condition that her healthy living could not have anticipated took her from us much too soon. Fortunately, she did not suffer long and her deep faith gave her peace. Bernice Pinsky was born in Edmonton in 1929 because there were no medical facilities in her hometown, Fort Resolution, NWT. Her father only learned his daughter was born by hearing the birth notices over the radio. Like many Canadians, she was the daughter of immigrants – her father George was from Russia and her mother Mary was from Denmark. Her father was a general merchant and fur trader in Fort Resolution. Bernice, her parents and older brother George, lived above the store. Life in the North was tough and it made Bernice a resilient woman. They were truly pioneers. To get a good education, she had to leave home at just 10 years old to attend Taunton House in Capilano (North Vancouver), BC. She completed her secondary education at York House in Vancouver and graduated from high school in 1948. Bernice enjoyed a quality education not available to most from her hometown, but the absence from her family at such a young age was a hardship that would have a lifelong impact on her. After high school, Bernice enrolled at the University of British Columbia and eventually earned a Bachelor in Home Economics in 1952. After graduation, she took a year to travel Europe and ‘get some culture’. When she returned from Europe, she completed her internship in Dietetics in Toronto and then joined the staff at UBC as a Dietician in the Fort Camp Residence. This was where she met her husband Joe Vrana, a recent Czech immigrant and student at UBC. They met when Joe complained about one of the dishes served at the residence cafeteria – truly love at first ‘bite’. After getting married, Bernice and Joe moved to Toronto. Bernice started working at Riverdale Hospital but took several years off after they adopted their two children, Ailene and Paul. Bernice returned to work at North York General Hospital as a Dietician and eventually opened their Diabetes Education Centre in 1979. She was Head Dietician there for 16 years, retiring in 1995. After retirement, Bernice and Joe spent a lot of time in the Czech Republic where Joe was working diligently to recover his family properties after the ‘Velvet Revolution’. Bernice eagerly learned all that she could about the country and its culture. With the help of Joe and her tutors, Bernice became functional in the challenging Czech language and was able to fully enjoy her second home. She and Joe visited many far-flung destinations around the globe and brought back with them mementos that are still treasured family possessions. Those of you that played games with her knew of her highly competitive nature – no leniency for grandchildren when playing Monopoly! Despite her healthy eating focus (obsession?), Bernice could easily be persuaded to eat comparatively unhealthy foods, especially on cruises. Bernice fought a lifelong battle with mental health issues that were finally diagnosed as bipolar disorder when she was in her 60s. She eventually settled on a medication regime that stabilized her condition. Her successes as a parent and a professional are even more impressive when you consider the personal battles she fought daily for so many years. When you tally up the pros and cons of an 87 (and ½) year story, there is no doubt that life was good to Bernice. She and Joe raised two wonderful children and were able to enjoy their grandchildren Ryan, Joshua, Samantha, Anastasia and Jamie for many years. Bernice was also fortunate to celebrate the birth of her great-grandchildren Charlie, Richard and Paul. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 29th at Highland Funeral Home – Scarborough Chapel, 3280 Sheppard Ave. E., Scarborough. It will be followed by a Memorial Service at 2:00 p.m. and reception at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations can be made to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation in Mom’s memory – CAMH Foundation – www.supportcamh.ca