Obituary of Mary Jane Bere

PENSACOLA FL-Mary Jane Bere, 93, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at the Waterford at Carpenter’s Creek assisted living facility in Pensacola, Florida. Mary Jane was a lifelong resident of Sterling, Illinois before retiring to Florida with her husband, Melvin L. Bere. Mary Jane Bere was born January 12, 1928 in Coleta, Illinois, the daughter of Edgar J. and Tillie (Erickson) Linton. She married Melvin on May 2, 1948 in Sterling where her husband was employed for almost 40 years at Northwestern Steel & Wire Company, the place they first met when Mary Jane was briefly employed as a secretary. Mary Jane was known by the hospice workers and staff of Waterford at Carpenter’s Creek as one of the last surviving “Rosie the Riveters” of WWII. Up until just a few weeks before her death she would entertain the staff by singing the complete Rosie the Riveter song of her Greatest Generation era. At age 16, after finishing up her Sterling Township High School classes for the day, she would aid the war effort by driving rivets into U.S. Army cots. Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Harold Linton; a sister, Doris Clark; her son, Steven K. Bere; and her husband of 50 years, Melvin L. Bere. Mrs. Bere is survived by her sister, Evelyn Russell of Manhattan, Kansas; son Michael (Pamela) Bere of Pensacola, Florida; two daughters, Diane (Dennis) Washer of Taylors, S.C. and Susan Bere of West Allis, Wisconsin; daughter-in-law, Vicki (Bere) Taylor also of Pensacola, Florida; twelve grandchildren; and a host of great-grandchildren. The family will be receiving friends from 12:00 p.m.- 1:00 p.m.at Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation in Sterling, Illinois on Monday, April 19, 2021 followed immediately by a funeral service at 1:00 p.m. with Mrs. Bere’s son, Dr. Michael Bere and son-in-law, the Reverend Dennis Washer, officiating. Burial will be in Oak Knoll Cemetery. A memorial has been established in Mrs. Bere’s name. Condolences may be sent to www.schillingfuneralhome.com