Bernice B. Filkins

1932 - 2025

Bernice B. Filkins, 92, of Craneville Place of Dalton, died on September 11 at Berkshire Medical Center after a short illness.

Born in East Windsor on November 5, 1932, daughter of Peter and Evelyn Mongue, she attended Windsor schools and was a graduate of the former Dalton High School. In 1949 she married the late Ronald C. "Ted" Filkins, with whom she started and ran Ted's Mobile Home Sales Inc., in Dalton in 1952. After closing that business, in 1968 she helped her husband start his trucking business, R.C. Filkins Inc., which was later located in Cheshire. In 1975 they founded Berkshire Bulk Service, which hauled flour throughout the Northeast and Canada, and in 1982 they began warehousing and distributing pet food and supplies from their Cheshire facility. In 1986 they opened Your Pet's Supermarket on Elm Street in Pittsfield until retiring in 1992.

She attended and was active in the First Congregational Church of Dalton, where she served as a deacon, read at many Sunday morning services, and served on the Church Board. She was also active in the New England Mobile Home Association, Rotary International, and traveled often with her husband to antique truck shows where his restored antique trucks won many awards. She was an avid reader, loved doing puzzles and shopping, and was a longtime Red Sox and Patriots fan.

She was predeceased by her husband in 1997, her daughter Denise E. Filkins in 2001, and her later companion Albert A. Cady in 2017. She leaves behind two sons, Lawrence R. Filkins and his wife Rita of Lanesborough, Peter J. Filkins and his wife Susan Roeper of Cheshire, two granddaughters and two great grandchildren. Besides her parents, she was also predeceased by her brother Lawrence "Bub" Mongue and her sister Beatrice "Bea" Dassatti.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Dery-Foley Funeral Home, 890 Main Street, Dalton, with a 10-11 AM viewing on Tuesday, September 16 at the funeral home, followed by a brief funeral service there. Burial will follow at Ashuelot Cemetery in Dalton.

Those wishing to donate in her name may contribute to the First Congregational Church of Dalton, 514 Main Street, Dalton MA 01226.