Bernice Pinsel Rothchild

Bernice Pinsel Rothchild was born in Chicago Illinois, on July 9, 1935, to parents, Aron and Esther (Landau) Pinsel. Throughout her life, Bernice lived in numerous locations, including Illinois, Connecticut, Michigan Wisconsin, and Florida, before settling in Texas. She passed away on Sunday, September 28, 2025, in Katy, Texas, at the age of 90.

Bernice was proud to come from a very hard-working family and humble beginnings. Some of Bernice's fondest childhood memories were of her maternal grandfather, who was a ragpicker. Through his hard work, an older multi story apartment building was purchased to ensure close family members were taken care of with their own apartment. Another favorite memory for Bernice was accompanying her mother to the parks in Chicago, where her mom sold her delicious freshly made blintzes to passersby.

After completing her senior year in high school, Bernice's parents surprised her with a graduation trip to Miami Beach, with several of her friends. It was there that Bernice fell in love with suntanning, which continued to bring joy to Bernice throughout her life. Acquiring and keeping a deep tan was a lifelong love for Bernice. To be by the water, exhale, and lay out for hours to see just how dark her skin could become.

Shortly after high school, Bernice met and married Abraham Maurice Rothchild. They lived modestly and started their family. Erin was born on Bernice's birthday, Joseph was born on Flag Day, and Herschel was born on a special day in April. Bernice thoroughly loved and enjoyed motherhood. She cared for her young family with immense pride, and she could stretch a dollar further than anyone else. In that, Bernice's family flourished. When her husband wanted to try his hand as the owner of a furniture store, and needed help, Bernice would take all three children to the store, put the children to work and assist customers in selecting the right sofa, dining room table, and other household furnishings. Bernice had a wonderful eye for color and patterns of that era and helped lead the store to a comfortable level of success. Her talent for decorating and furniture re-arranging continued throughout her life.

As time went on, Bernice, her husband and family, moved and the furniture store closed. Bernice was faced with helping her husband start over in Chicago. Bernice had taken shorthand in high school and put her skillset to work, becoming a local attorney's secretary. Shortly thereafter, Bernice's marriage ended. Faced with the need to support three children, Bernice took on multiple jobs to make ends meet. She was no stranger to hard work and met each day with a positive attitude and a willingness to succeed.

Bernice was an exceptional secretary. She enjoyed a long-term career with a Tampa General hospital as the secretary of the maintenance department. She then became an asset to a commercial real estate brokerage as their front desk person, as well as a local higher end hotel, organizing and running the front desk. If extra money was needed, Bernice would take on a second or a third job, to make sure everyone had what they needed. When Bernice was ready to purchase a home, she didn't borrow money for the down payment. Instead, she took a job as a phone solicitor for various companies. Her genuine love for people was apparent in each call

she made. Bernice was recognized for her accomplishments selling encyclopedias and setting sales appointments for a time-share company. When Bernice set her mind to achieve a goal, nothing got in her way. She was determined and persistent until her goal was accomplished.

Bernice poured this mindset into her children. Just as importantly, Bernice treated everyone the same. Bernice was always an encourager and set out to make them smile. She made friends everywhere she went. She never knew a stranger and always looked forward to speaking to people she had yet to meet each day. When Bernice walked in the room, her warm and entertaining presence was felt. A natural beauty, Bernice was striking at 5' 11" and a half inches tall. A local jewelry store had Bernice model necklaces, as well as bracelets and rings, as Bernice had a slender neck and beautiful hands.

Bernice was filled with unshakable faith. When her son Herschel Jonathan went into the Navy, Bernice prayed consistently and fasted her most treasured treat, chocolate, without blinking an eye. Bernice didn't waiver at all, ever, on her promise to God. Chocolate, in no shape or form, crossed her lips until the time that Hershel Jonathan's terms in the Navy were completed and fulfilled.