Berniece Rochford

Berniece Rochford age 94 of New Hampton died Wednesday morning, June 8, 2011, at the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 10, 2011, at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph Center, New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. Placing the pall will be Abbey and Cari Knowlton, Kelly Karkoske, Gail Johnson, Hannah and Olivia Rochford. Lector will be Paul Trewin and the offertory gifts will be presented by Brittany Trewin, Gail johnson and Karen Rochford. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, New Hampton with Richard Trewin, Keith Rochford, Andrew Rochford, Nathan Rochford, Justin Elliott and J.J. Rochford serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Tammy Gitch, Monica Geerts, Mary Ann O’Neill, Peggy Lester, Anna Mary Carr and Ila Mihm. Friends may greet the family 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, June 9, 2011, at the Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in New Hampton where there will be a 4:00 p.m. rosary and a 7:00 p.m. scripture service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Gertrude Berniece Rochford was born January 31, 1917, in Lawler, IA, the daughter of Charlie and JoHannah (Kipp) Finnegan. She received her education in the Stapleton #6 Country School and graduated from the Lawler High School in 1935. On November 25, 1936, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Lawler, she married Charles Merle Rochford. To this union seven children were born. After raising her family, Berniece worked in the elementary school cafeteria for 10 years and also worked ten years on the cake line at the former Sara Lee Bakery retiring in 1982. She and Merle were longtime members of St. Joseph Parish and Rosary Society, had been a Sara Lee Union Steward, and a member of the National Farmers Organization. She enjoyed dancing, playing cards, spending winters in Texas and visiting with friends. Survivors include her husband of over 74 years, Merle; four sons, Charles (Connie) Rochford of Rochester, MN, Jerry (Jean) Rochford of New Hampton, Michael (Sandy) Rochford of Cedar Rapids, Rock (Peggy) Rochford of Cedar Rapids; three daughters, Sharon Trewin of New Hampton, Patricia Knowlton of Ionia, Roxann (Karl) Podratz of Rochester, MN; 21 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two step great-great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Josephine Rochford of Sumner. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Cornell (Nina) Finnegan, Gerald (Grace) Finnegan, Doris Elaine (John) Munger.