Bernice C. "Bernie" Braden

Bernice "Bernie" C. Braden 85, of Cape Coral died Friday July 23, 2010 at Gulf Coast Village. She was born in Michigan City, IN in 1924. She served her country honorably with the Army Air Forces during WW II. Bernie married her husband Earl in 1946. They moved to Cape Coral in 1962 from Indianapolis, IN. She worked for the original developer of Cape Coral, Gulf American Corp., for ten years and then began Bernie Braden Realty in 1978. She later worked for Raso Realty. She served on Cape Coral City Council from 1989 to 1993. She was instrumental in starting the neighborhood watch program in 1982. Bernie was a past president of; The Republican Womens Club, Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, Cape Coral Association of Realtors, and A.B.W.A.. She was an active member of the Veterans Midpoint Charitable Trust, Cape Coral Kiwanis, and the Cape Coral Construction Industry. Bernie was named Cape Coral's citizen of the year in 1993. In 2007 the land near the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce on Cape Coral Parkway was named Bernie Braden Park. She was preceded in death by her husband Earl in 1978, two sisters, one brother and her parents. Survivors include her Nephew Andrew Braden and two brothers Ronald Harger and Terry Harger all of IN. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 31, 2010 at Faith Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral. Burial will be private. Calling hours will be Friday July 30, 2010 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Metz Chapel of Harvey-Engelhardt-Metz Funeral Homes in Cape Coral. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gulf Coast Village Foundation, 1333 Santabarbara Blvd. Cape Coral, Fl 33991. Please visit www.metzfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence.