Obituary of Bernice Matijevich

Born on March 17, 1920, in White City, IL, to Peter & Stella (Millick) Villa.    Bernice left Illinois for West Virginia as a teen to help her sister Louise care for her growing family.  While in Weirton, she met Stanley “Jumbo” Matijevich.  According to Louise’s husband Nick, Jumbo was a hell-raiser so he sent Bernice back to Illinois.  Jumbo wasn’t having any of that so he drove to Illinois and brought her back.  They were married on January 19, 1939.  Jumbo preceded her in death on April 18, 1987.

In addition to being a homemaker, Bernice worked for 10 years as a cook for the Hancock County School Lunch Program.  She was a member of the Holy Resurrection Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church in Steubenville, Ohio, and a life member of the K.S.S. Vidovdan.  She was instrumental in starting the church’s Sunday School Program as well as establishing the first Girl Scout Troop for the church.  Bernice was also a Life Member of the PTA.  She belonged to Three Score Seniors, loved playing cards, and her favorite sports teams were  WVU,  the Steelers & the Pirates.  She loved to bowl in the Breakfast League & the Friday night league and once bowled a 287 game.

Bernice worked the election polls for many years and you always knew she was there because she made cabbage rolls for the workers to eat for lunch.  She was an excellent cook and she loved to exercise.  She was a big fan of Jack LaLanne and she exercised every day.

Her daughters were with her when Bernice passed on December 12, 2022, a few days after having a stroke.   She is survived by her children Nancy (Joe) Ewaskey of Jacksonville, FL, Linda (Steve) Richards of Atlantic Beach, FL, and Shirley (Bob) Fair of Osprey, FL,  grandchildren Michele Ewaskey, Tammy (Dana) Richmond, Brian (Kim) Richards, Daniel Richards, Eric (Jamie)Fair, Rich (Rosa)Fair, great-grandchildren Courtney (Cole) McQueeney,  Addison Richards, Hayden Richards, Ava Fair, Leo Fair and great, great-grandchildren Adelaide McQueeney & Jude McQueeney.

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, her spouse, brothers Dan (Dorothy), Henry, Guy (Lolly) & Dewey Villa, and sisters Louise (Nick) Morris, Evelyn (Al) Gallo & Helen Villa.

She will be cremated and her ashes will be buried with her husband at a later date.

Donations can be made to Tidewell Hospice Foundation, 3550 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239, or Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church, 528 North Fourth Street, Steubenville, OH 43958.