Ola Bernice Walters

Ola Bernice Walters "Bernice" passed away on March 2, 2025, at age 95 years. She was born to Willard and Laura Fuller on November 29, 1929, and had been a lifelong resident of Hillsboro, Illinois, until she moved to Burgess Square Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Westmont, Illinois in 2022.
She married Frank Adam Walters on May 5, 1952, raised three children, and worked as an Executive Assistant at Hurst-Roche in Hillsboro for many years. Her most impactful role was that of consummate caretaker to her husband while he suffered from Parkinson's disease, and to both her brother Willard and her mother in their later years. She championed frugality, honesty, fairness, intelligent discourse, and progressive policies. She was a relentless enforcer of proper grammar and correct spelling while her passion was solving the most difficult of crossword puzzles. She loved all children and children were naturally drawn to her.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Frank; two brothers, Donald Dean Fuller (infant), and Willard Jr. Fuller; and two sisters, Betty Elsmore and Mary Hughes.
She is survived by two brothers, Rex Fuller (Bonny), and Drex Fuller (Sue); one sister, Virginia Joyce; and her three children, Janet Smietana (Paul), Betty Faron (Charles), and David Walters (Pamela).
Also surviving are three grandchildren, Adam Smietana (Marcella Melgarejo), Emily Wu (Benjamin), and Sarah Smietana (Jon Blazek); three great grandchildren, Boaz Earl Wu, Ola Rose Wu, and Waylon Walter Blazek; and many extended family and friends.
Services will be privately held, with burial in Union Cemetery, Panama, Illinois.
The family has entrusted Assalley Funeral Homes with the ceremonies.
Please visit www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com to share memories or to offer condolences to the family.