Bernice Turney Gaskell

February 1, 1918 - July 10, 2014

Bernice Turney Gaskell, 96, died Thursday, July 10, 2014 at the Family Hospice and Palliative Care Center located in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Bernice was born February 1, 1918 in Belle Vernon, a daughter of the late Thomas J. and Bessie Edwards Turney. Bernice grew up during the Great Depression and was a graduate of Belle Vernon High School in 1936. She obtained her teaching certificate from State Teacher’s College at California in 1938. She was awarded her Bachelor of Science in 1950. Known as “Mrs. Gaskell” to hundreds of students, she began her teaching career as World War II converged on society and continued to work as an elementary teacher for the Belle Vernon School District for more than 40 years. She was a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Retired Teachers. Upon her retirement, “Bee” enjoyed many years of retirement with family and friends in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In addition to her parents, Bernice was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore Gaskell (Monongahela); sister, Dorothy Turney Bell and her son, Bernice’s nephew, Daryl P. Bell (Belle Vernon); sister, “Hun”, Dolores Turney Blair (Perryopolis), and brother, David J. Turney, (Belle Vernon). Surviving are her sister-in-law, Marjorie Riggins Turney; nephews, Kenneth Bell and David R. Turney; niece, Lee Ann Turney Russell, and many very special, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins. The family will observe a private, grave-side funeral service at the Belle Vernon Cemetery. Memorials in Bernice’s memory may be given to Family Hospice & Palliative Care 50 Moffett Street • Pittsburgh PA 15243 Phone: 412-572-8800 https://donate.towercare.com/form/familyHospice.