Bernice Kopetzky, 90, of Falls City, NE, passed away June 28, 2021 at Falls City. She was born January 24, 1931 at Pawnee City, NE to John and Helen (Stanczyk) Marfice.
She married William Kopetzky on August 16, 1951 at Table Rock, NE. He passed away May 26, 2011.
Bernice was raised on a farm near Table Rock. She attended Rural District 17 Pawnee County School and graduated from Table Rock High School in 1948. After her children were older she attended and graduated Peru State Teachers College in 1966. She taught at Pawnee County District 16 School, Elk Creek Elementary School. She earned a Master Degree in Special Education from the University of Nebraska and became a Special Education Teacher at Falls City Public Schools. After 27 years there she volunteered at Sacred Heart School and started the Rescue Reading Program, which she ran until she was 85.
She was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, Retired Teachers Association, American Heart Association and Red Hat Society. She was church organist and choir director for 65 years, a 15 gallon blood doner, established the Richardson County Respite Program. She was a PTA Life Member, awarded the Jaycee’s Outstanding Educator award in 1992, a Nebraska Teacher of the Year Finalist in 1982, Cor Christi Teaching Award from the Diocese of Lincoln, Grand Marshal for the Cobble Stone Parade.
Bernice is survived by her sons, Gregory and his wife Veronica of Longmont, CO, Jon and his wife Linda of Olympia, WA, David and his wife Deneise of Bremerton, WA, daughter-in-law, Bridget Kopetzky of Bowie, MD, brother, Norman Marfice of Omaha, grandchildren, Justin, Christiana, Brian, Brandon, Nicole, Benjamin, Megan, Cassandra, Jennifer, Caitrin, Ashley, Collin, great-grandchildren, Anya, Cora, Quinn, Daniel, Stephen, William, Emily, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sons, Daniel and Steven, brothers, Don, Richard, William, Paul and Denny Marfice, sisters, Eleanor Harper, Louise Spencer, Joyce Neito and Liz Phillips.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, July 8, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church with Father Lawrence Stoley as the presiding priest. Interment will be in Falls City Catholic Cemetery. The Mass will be livestreamed on Dorr and Clark Funeral Home’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dorrandclarkfuneralhome
A Parish Rosary will be recited on July 7, 2021 at 7:00 PM at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. A Catholic Daughters Rosary will be recited at 3:00 PM on July 7, 2021 at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home.
Memorials can be designated to Sacred Heart School.
