Obituary of Mary Bernstein

Olean, NY Mary Ellen Bernstein of 121 N. 19th St. died Sunday (June 19, 2011) in The Pines Health and Rehabilitation Center in Olean. Born July 31, 1931 in Pittsburgh, PA she was the daughter of Louis C. and Myrtle Walter Shriver. On June 29, 1959 at Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo she married William C. Bernstein who predeceased her June 24, 1974. Mrs. Bernstein moved to Olean in 1948 and was a graduate of St. Bonaventure University where she earned a Masters Degree in English and Latin. She had been a teacher for a short time at Cuba Central School and later taught high school English, Spanish and Latin at Bolivar for thirty five years, retiring in 1987. She was a member and past president of the Temple B'Nai Israel in Olean and was active with the Olean Theater Workshop. She served as a Cattaraugus County Legislator for eight years and formerly served on the board of directors for the Genesis House. She was a member of the New York State Retired Teachers Association and was a longtime Bonaventure Basketball fan. She enjoyed playing bridge and loved entertaining, especially by having family get-togethers in her home with her children and grandchildren where she took delight in cooking the meals. Surviving are two sons Phillip C. (Rose Dieteman) Bernstein and Alan Bernstein, both of Olean; five grandchildren Rheannon Stone Simpson, Senneca Stone, Channing Zandi, Holden Bernstein and Tiernney Bernstein; five great grandchildren; one sister Sydney Shriver-Stolz of Hudson, FL; one brother Louis (Priscilla) Shriver of Hampton; several nieces and nephews and Kathleen Ann Baker of Olean whom she loved like a sister. In addition to her husband she was predeceased by two sisters Sally Shriver Kring and Vanita Shriver Parkhurst. At Mrs. Bernstein's request, there will be no public visitation. Friends are invited to a service of remembrance on Tuesday (June 28, 2011) at 11:00am in Temple B'Nai Israel in Olean. A reception will follow at the Old Library Restaurant. Inurnment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo. The family will sit Shiva at Mrs. Bernstein's home on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week at 8pm. Memorials may be made to the Upstate New York Transplant Services 110 Broadway St. Buffalo, NY 14203, the Genesis House 107 S. Barry St. Olean, NY 14760 or to the Olean General Hospital Foundation. Arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean.