Bertha V. (Lyszczasz) Shenk, 100, died May 1st in the Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford, MA.
Bertha was born in Elizabeth, NJ on February 7, 1920. She was the second born (the oldest daughter) of 6 children. Both her parents, Frank and Magdalena, immigrated from Poland in 1913. Bertha attended a Polish school and although she loved school, she only went as far as the 8th grade. Her parents relied on her to help support the family and take care of her younger siblings.
Bertha was a Gold Star Widow. Her first husband John was killed in WWII. She met her second husband Walter through John’s cousin. That is how she came to live in Massachusetts. She was married to Walter for 47 years. They raised their 3 children in their home in Dorchester.
After her 3 children were in school, she worked mother’s hours at WT Grants in Dorchester. She started as a cashier and then became the manager of the Men’s and Boy’s Department making it one of the top departments in the store. This was quite an accomplishment for someone who only went as far as 8th grade.
Bertha loved to sing. No matter where she lived throughout her lifetime, she would join a church choir.
After 43 years in Dorchester, she moved with Walter to Stoughton where she joined the St. James Choir and became a member of the General Federation of Women’s Club of Massachusetts (a volunteer service organization). She was active in both the choir and Women’s Club for 25 years before she moved to Franklin, MA and then Milford, MA.
Once Bertha and Walter became empty nesters, they enjoyed traveling. They would decide on a trip and then Bertha would save all year long for that trip. After Walter died in 1992, Bertha’s travels were mainly train trips to New Jersey to visit family and bus trips to Foxwood Casino with the Stoughton Senior Center. Bertha was a very social person and on the trips to Foxwood, she would find the $5.00 Black Jack table and spend hours playing and talking with the other players. After traveling to Foxwood wasn’t an option, playing Bingo and/or Pokeno at her Assisted Living Home in Franklin and then the Nursing Home in Milford became a good substitute. She looked forward to playing and would play everyday if it was offered.
Bertha was a great cook! She wasn’t afraid to try different recipes. If anyone offered vegetables from their garden or fruit from their trees, Bertha would take whatever was offered. She canned and preserved and never wasted anything.
Bertha is survived by her 3 children, 6 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and 1 great, great grandchild.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.