Obituary

Bernice Rose Lam passed away on January 28, 2019 in Bellingham, Washington. Bernice was born on July 17, 1932 in Jennings, Missouri to Tobias J. and Eleanor Hauck. Bernice grew up in Jennings, graduating from Fairview High School in 1951. She later married George Lam and settled in Florissant, Missouri. They moved their family to San Diego, California in 1973 and then to Phoenix, Arizona in 1976. Bernice lived in many other places, including Kingman, Arizona, and Salt Lake City, Utah. She is pre-deceased by her ex-husband George and her daughter Donna, and she is survived by her daughter, Nancy Lam, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona; her twin sons, Bill Lam, who lives in Bellingham, and Toby Lam, who lives in Tiverton, Rhode Island; and her grandchildren, Dawn, Adrianna, Candace, Nick, Tara and Kylie, Tim Jr. and Billy. She was the last of five sisters, and the last Hauck of this branch of her family tree.

Bernice loved helping and serving people, which was evident in her choices of employment throughout her life. She was a wonderful waitress in many restaurants and cafes, including Torry Pines Golf Course Coffee Shop and the coffee shop in the Sun City Ramada Inn. Bernice also helped run the family’s 7-Eleven store as well as keeping the financial records of the family’s Exxon service station. When she lived in Kingman, she worked as a Court Clerk to the Judge for the Mohave County Superior Court and retired there. Years later, Bernice moved to Salt Lake City and in 2017, she moved to Bellingham to be closer to family.

Bernice was a great cook and baker, always providing home cooked meals to her family. Some of the family’s favorites were chicken and dumplings, her annual Easter Bunny Cake, homemade pizza, “Hauck” spaghetti passed down from her mother and the incredible amount of Christmas cookies, fudge, and banana bread she would bake throughout the years for her family. She was also an avid bowler who, along with her family, bowled throughout her life. Bernice loved boxers and raised many dogs, and whelped many litters for over 30 years. Some would say she loved her boxers more than her kids! Most of all, Bernice loved all family gatherings, whether in her home or traveling for a reunion of any size. In her twilight years, she still loved time with family, but also loved to play Wii bowling, dominoes and Bingo.

As a Mother, Grandmother, Daughter, Sister, Niece and Friend, Bernice will be greatly missed. She was a loving, giving person who always had a smile and kind word for everyone she met. Bernice will be laid to rest in August 2019, according to her wishes, in Jennings, Missouri.