Bernis Joan Andrew
05/14/1940 – 04/25/2011
Bernis Joan Andrew passed away 1 year ago on April 25, 2011. Bernis was the first of three daughters born to Grant and Cecile (Hockel) Jacobson in Windom, Minnesota. Bernis attended Augustana College and Mankato State College. She worked in Minneapolis for several years before she married Stephen H. Andrew (April 25, 1939 – Feb 2, 2012), also of Windom, in 1963 and moved to California. Bernis (and Stephen) worked at Goldstone Tracking Station near Barstow before moving to Santa Barbara in 1976. Bernis worked for Dean Witter Reynolds for many years as well as Seed Mackall & Cole, Sutro and Amatec before retiring. Bernis was a model for the LaBell modeling agency in town, and she loved knitting and sewing. Bernis was an excellent knitter and dreamed of opening her own yarn shop. Bernis was a beautiful, funny and loving woman who loved her two daughters and 4 grandchildren very much. Bernis was in the pep band in high school, played the sax, was in the choir, speech club and Modern Music Masters. She was secretary, Vice President, a cheerleader, majorette and home coming Queen attendant as well. Bernis was beautiful, talented and a loving mother. We remember her knitting and sewing our clothes and she loved the color purple and strawberries.
Unfortunately over the last few years of her life alcohol and depression took her over and she became homeless. Her friends and family, and those close to her tried to help her battle the affects of depression and alcoholism but could not save her. The last few years were very painful for her and for those who loved her. Bernis will always be remembered for her kindness, her love, her passion to help others and her beautiful big smile and heartfelt laugh.
I know that you are warm now, and that you have peace and may rest safely. Please know that you were my best friend and my mommy, and that I will always love who I know you are. I forgive you for any misjudgments you had and please know that I did everything I knew how to do to try and help you. I will always remember your love and hugs. I love you, Heather
Mom, It’s been a year since you embarked on your journey into the after life. I hope you have climbed the stairway to heaven, made it through the pearly gates, followed the bright light and found the comfort and peace you so desperately needed. I believe heaven is whatever you want it to be. I know your heaven is filled with love and that you are free from the loneliness you felt here on earth. Dad is probably somewhere between the stairway and the gates, he may need your help to find his heaven. The girls and I miss you every day. See you on the other side. Hiedi
Bernis is survived by her two daughters; Hiedi Andrew & Heather Andrew Huhn, son in-law Ross Huhn, grandchildren; Kilen, Kelsea, Indie & River of Santa Barbara, and her two sisters Carolyn Kephart and Grace (Gary)Thimsen of Sioux Falls, SD.
April 25 would have also been our father Stephen H. Andrew’s 73 birthday. Happy Birthday Daddy. We all miss you and love you very much and think of you every day.
We miss our mommy and our daddy and we know that you are both at peace and free from the pain that ailed you in the last years of your lives. We will always remember your love, your laughs and your smiles.