Bernice Giamanco

Bernice Alma Giamanco, age 86, climbed the stairs to heaven on Friday, March 28, 2008, in the home of her loving daughter and son-in-law, Floyd and Donna England. Bern was born February 2, 1922 in Monroe to George and Lydia (Wittkop) Burt of Monroe. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, where she attended grade school. She graduated from Monroe High School in 1940. Bern was employed at Consolidated Paper Company in the early 1940’s. She married Philip A Giamanco II on February 2, 1944; sadly, he passed away on June 18, 1990. Bern worked diligently, wrapping meat for Allied Foods at the Monroe Shopping Center for 25 years until her retirement in 1982. When not working, you could find her in her garden. She enjoyed bowling, with a career that spanned more than four decades. Over the years she bowled with many people, starting with her sisters, then many friends, and concluding her career with her daughter, Donna, and granddaughters, Chris and Amy. She bowled in many State and City tournaments. At 76 years young, she captured the City Doubles Title with her partner, Billie Jo Favor. At the Monroe Women’s Bowling Association, Bernice was both surprised and honored to be the first woman to receive the Officer of the Year Award. Waiting at heaven’s gate to welcome her are her husband, parents, five precious babies, Danny, Dennis, Diane, Sherry, and Sharon, a grandson, a sister, Thelma Siterlet, and brothers, George and Art Burt. Left to honor her memory are 2 children, Donna (Floyd) England of Monroe and Philip A. Giamanco III of St. Cloud, FL, six grandchildren, Floyd (Missy) England, Tonya Moyer, Amy England, all of Monroe, Chris Wandt of N. Dakota, and Philip A. Giamanco IV and Sharon (Dave) Olsen of St. Cloud, FL, nineteen great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren, brothers, Howard (Ruth) and Alfred Burt of Monroe, sisters, Margaret Swinkey of Monroe, Evelyn Richardson of Olney, Montana, Marie McElya of Paducah, KY, Bonnie (Dale) Kregel of Monroe, and many cherished nieces and nephews. Friends may call on Sunday at the Bacarella Funeral Home from 2-8 PM, where services will be held at 11 AM Monday. Rev. Randy Pierce of Bible Fellowship church will officiate. Burial will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Memorial gifts in her name may be given to the Mercy Memorial Hospice of Monroe.