Mrs. Bernice K. Armstrong
Augusta, GA – Mrs. Bernice Kirsch Armstrong (Bern) passed away on September 1, 2011, at Trinity Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph A. Armstrong; her parents, Augustus V. and Nelle Kirsch; and a brother, Augustus V. Kirsch, Jr.
Mrs. Armstrong was a native Augustan. She graduated from Mount Saint Joseph Academy and attended St. Elizabeth’s College in New Jersey. She was a member of St. Mary-on-the-Hill Catholic Church, the Irish American Heritage Society where she was honored as matriarch of the 2002 Irish Family of the Year, and a charter member of the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Joseph’s/Trinity Hospital.
Mrs. Armstrong was active well into her 90s, especially enjoying line dancing at the Senior Center of St. Mary’s and volunteering at St. Joseph’s/Trinity Hospital, where she earned her 3500 hour pin. Known affectionately by her children and grandchildren as Grains and Oma, she was the best chicken fryer this side of the Mississippi. It was standing room only on fried chicken Sundays. She loved a gathering of any sort.
Survivors include her children: Claire Armstrong, Gerald (Tonya) Armstrong, Patricia (Jim) Nichols, Michael Armstrong and a sister, Angela K. Clary. She has 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
The family is especially grateful to Mrs. Armstrong’s caregivers, Barbara Wesby, Jean Pullings, and Katherine Brown for all the love, devotion and care they gave to her.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to St. Mary-on-the-Hill Catholic Church, 1420 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, GA 30904.
The Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Mary-on-the-Hill Catholic Church with Rev. Gerald Ragan celebrant. Interment will follow at Westover Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be her nephews Chuck Clary, David Clary, David Fiveash, Carl Kirsch, John Kirsch and Edward Rhodes.
The Vigil Service will be held Friday evening at 6:00 P.M. and the family will receive friends following until 7:30 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com