Bernice: A fiery story of love and family

About the Book

Bernice and her family was ostracized from their small town community when she was just a child, but no one ever talked about why. As a teenager she became involved with a man twelve years older than her. They had two kids before Bernice was twenty years old. She did her best to conform to the traditional role of mother and housewife. She became a member of the church and community. But in contrast to some 1950s housewives, she was forced to be self-reliant. For more than a decade she worked as a nurse at the Colorado State Hospital, dealing with the unimaginable, an abusive husband, and near-death. Life was never what she expected. But she dealt with it head on. “Bernice: A Fiery Story of Love and Family is a gripping account of survival and strength. But even deeper than its testament to endurance is its testament to love. Bernice’s loyalty and love of her family shines through each page. She is a woman of honesty and strong character, but more importantly, one of great humor and a pure heart. Beautifully told by her daughter, Janet Thomas, Bernice is an inspiration to us all.” - Carlene Cross, author of Fleeing Fundamentalism and The Undying West

About the Author

BERNICE was born on the cusp of the depression era and thrust into a 1950s housewife mold that didn’t fit. She was a psychiatric ward nurse at the Colorado State Hospital, working with those deemed at the time to be mentally ill. She struggled with socially unacceptable divorce, and raised teenagers in the late 1960s as a single parent. She survived domestic violence that nearly cost her life, kidnapping charges, drugs, alcohol, and more, aided only by the love from her family and a tenacious spirit that guided her. When her daughter, Janet, asked her what life was like when she was growing up, about her first kiss, and about living through the women’s movement, the answers led to a surprisingly intense personal tale, which is now Bernice’s memoir and Janet’s first book.

JANET C. THOMAS started her career as a writer for a small town newspaper. She moved into marketing communications and eventually web site content for various companies in the Seattle area. A graduate of the University of Washington, she holds a master’s degree in communications.