Alice Berner

Alice Emfinger Berner, 86, changed her address to a celestial one on Thursday, June 10, after complications from a mild stroke.

She was born August 27, 1923 in Lagrange, Georgia, the daughter of the late Zula Taylor Emfinger and Henry D. Emfinger. She was one of five children and proud to be a twin.

Her life was worthy of becoming a best seller, complete with tragedy and romance. Her mother died when she was eight and the children were taken care of by relatives. She met and fell in love with a soldier who saw her picture posted on her cousin’s army barracks bunk. After an exchange of letters, the two met in person and continued a war time romance. She married her soldier, Norman Berner, in September 1942. Family teased her for marrying a “Yankee”. Hearing the “How I met your mother” story is a family favorite.

She will be remembered for her faithfulness to the Lord, her strong and enduring love for family, and her willingness to step in and help anyone in need. She pursued a non-traditional career path, returning to college as an adult and becoming a registered nurse, while helping her husband run his tree surgeon business in Mt. Holly, NJ, and raising three children. After the family moved to the Flemington area, she began working for the pediatric office at Hunterdon Medical Center, where she worked for many years. She continued her nursing education, and forged the way for New Jersey nurses to become Nurse Practitioners by becoming one of the state’s first Certified Physicians Assistants. She advocated for implementation of the Nurse Practitioner credential by testifying before New Jersey legislators urging them to put appropriate laws in place to support this credential. She worked at Hunterdon Medical Center for many years. After reaching retirement age, she continued to look for opportunities to help people in need. She and her husband became house parents for the House of New Beginnings in Lebanon, NJ, a home for pregnant women who needed shelter until they gave birth.

She and her husband moved to Farmington, Maine in 1987, where they resided and attended church at East Wilton Union Church, until they returned to New Jersey a number of years later. In her later years, Alice enjoyed long visits to Maine and the opportunity to be with many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an expert listener and would always make time for friends and family to share their lives with her. She provided comfort when she said she would be praying. She loved unconditionally and offered wise advice and counsel when asked. She loved listening to gospel music. Although she never learned to swim, one of her favorite vacation destinations was the Jersey shore, where she spent many summer months listening to the ocean and entertaining friends and family for extended visits.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 67 years, Norman Berner; two daughters, Janice Daku and her husband Tom, of Farmington, Maine, and Brenda Petersen and her husband John, of Clinton, New Jersey; seven grandchildren—Tyler Petersen, Victoria Petersen, and Erik Petersen of Clinton, New Jersey; Thomas “Nate” Daku and his wife Meg of Greenwood Indiana, Jacob Daku and his wife Ginger of Belgrade, Maine, Benjamin Daku and his wife Bridget of Farmington, Maine, and Levi Daku of Farmington, Maine. She is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren: Vashti, Titus, Neah, Ezra, and Elias Daku of Greenwood, Indiana; Ceirra and Samuel Daku of Belgrade, Maine; and Katalin, Kaleb, and Jesse Daku of Farmington, Maine. She is also survived by her twin brother, Alvin Emfinger of Warm Springs, Georgia, and many treasured nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by a son, Jeffery, who drowned when he was 16; a brother, J.D. Emfinger, a brother Arnold Emfinger,and a sister, Bertha Heard.

A Celebration of her Life service will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 1 p.m. at Heritage Baptist Church, Flemington, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to either Heritage Baptist Church, 42 Bonetown Rd., Flemington, NJ 08822 or Maine Keeping Seniors Home (WMCA-KSH), P O Box 200, East Wilton, ME 04234.

Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information, or to send condolences.