Bernice Schwabacher

1923 - 2020

Bernice D. Schwabacher
July 16, 1923 - December 13, 2020
Bernice Dunn Schwabacher passed away peacefully in her home from natural causes on December 13, 2020, surrounded by her children. She lived 97 wonderful years and will be remembered for her love of family, her kindness, and her generous spirit. She was beautiful, graceful, and young at heart to the last day of her life.

Bernice was born in San Mateo, where she grew up and attended San Mateo High School – valedictorian of her class. Soon thereafter, she and her family moved to San Francisco, where she had a large extended family - both of her parents and her grandmother were born in the City, and she considered herself a native. Bernice's opportunity to attend UC Berkeley was cut short by the onset of WWII. However, in 1944, Bernice met the love of her life, S. Donald Schwabacher, also a second-generation San Franciscan. They were married in 1945 and enjoyed happy post-war years with close friends and family in the City, before locating to the Peninsula to raise their family. Don pre-deceased Bernice in 1993 after 48 charmed years of marriage.

Bernice was a true matriarch, a great listener, and she had a special ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds. She will be missed by everyone who came into her world, but most especially by her family, including her three children and their spouses: Donna Schwabacher Egeberg and Jeffrey Egeberg, Diane Schwabacher Vocker and the late Thomas Vocker, and Randall Schwabacher and Kristine Elliott Schwabacher; her 7 grandchildren and their spouses: Lisa Vocker and Michael Lofberg, Brian Vocker and Pilar Tamez Vocker, Stephanie Vocker Filice and Patrick Filice, Christopher Egeberg, Channing Egeberg Kempster and Ryan Kempster, Tyler Schwabacher and Carrie Delucchi Schwabacher, Blake Schwabacher and Kate Lumsden Schwabacher; and her 12 great grandchildren: Matthew, Elizabeth, Isabella, Sydney, William, Zachary, Alejandra, Claire, Thomas, Jackson, Maggie, and Guy. There were also numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many others whose lives she enriched and touched by opening her home to them or acting as their "Grammy" or "Auntie Bern".

Bernice was a devout Catholic and spent her life in service to others. She was a constant volunteer in her community. She worked to bring reading development and music education to underserved schools, and she donated countless hours to the Home for Unwed Mothers in San Francisco, the Children's Health Home in San Mateo, the St. Francis Center in Redwood City, and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, where she volunteered for 32 years before retiring at the age of 90. Bernice was a life-time supporter of the San Francisco Ballet, the San Francisco Symphony, and numerous art organizations and museums.

Due to COVID-19, Bernice was quietly laid to rest on December 28, 2020, with only her immediate family in attendance. A celebration of life is planned for a future date. Donations in Bernice's memory may be made to the Schwabacher Forestry Fund at UC Berkeley - College of Natural Resources, Donor Gifts and Services, 1995 University Ave, Suite 400, Berkeley, CA 94704-1070; St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room, 3500 Middlefield Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025; or the charity of your choice.