Bernice R. Lang

Bernice Rose Lang 99 of Carterville died September 9,2020 in the Herrin Hospital. She was born in Chicago to Bernard and Rose (Liss) Dechnik July 4,1921. Uncle Nick Named her "Little Firecracker". Her father was a barber shop owner ( 3 Chairs), and her earliest job was sweeping up the floor. She always valued working hard (you know the depression could happen again), as a young teen she was a bakery girl at a Polish Bakery. She got the job because she spoke polish. She then was trained at IBM in Chicago to be a key punch operator. This was a career she enjoyed her whole life.she married Jerome Charles Lang Sr. June 2,1945, they moved to Melrose Park and had 2 daughters. When the youngest daughter started school she took a job at International Harvester. This was a time when working mothers were not common. She walked the girls to the bus stop and then walked on to work. After a few years she decided to learn to drive also not common at that time. She walked for her health into her mid 90's where she walked in her neighborhood. They moved to Wheeling and she worked Ecko-Alcoa Pure Oil. Now they also had 2 boys. They moved to Fox Lake on a small resort she ran while taking care of her boys. (no woman was ever good enough for her boys). After her retirement from Kemper Insurance in Log Grove Bernice and Jerry retired to Mtn. Home Arkansas. They moved to Carterville in 2001. They volunteered at the V. A. in Marion. In their younger years they were very active in the Catholic Church. Bernice was a gracious hostess, she made sure her guests had plenty of coffee. Bernice was cared for by her son J.C.. A special thank you to her oldest great granddaughter Amy Rose. She mailed Bernice cards and letters regularly. After her 94th birthday party Bernice took her first ride on a motorcycle with her granddaughters husband Ron Davis on his Harley. She enjoyed riding in the Goreville Freedom Fest Parade and thought it was for her birthday. She is survived by daughters Mary Lou and Jack Beyer of Goreville and Chris and Roger Hoehne of Ingleside and sons J.C. Lang of Carterville and John Lang of Ingleside, 5 granddaughters, Stephanie, Michelle, Rachel, Jodi and Roxanne. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. Funeral Mass will be Saturday September 19, 2020 at OLMC Church at 10:00 am and Internment will be in San Carlo Cemetery following the service.