Bernice Frances Urban

Bernice Frances Urban, 77, of Lake Isabella, died Monday, Aug. 29, 2005 at home surrounded by her family after losing her battle with lymphoma. A funeral Mass celebrating her life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at St. Mary University Parish in Mt. Pleasant with Father Jeffrey Donner presiding. Cremation will follow. Friends may call at Lux Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant on Thursday from 1-9 p.m. with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Visitation continues at the church on Friday from 10-11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the wishes of the family. Envelopes are available at Lux Funeral Home. Bernice was born in Detroit on March 3, 1928, the daughter of Bernard and Mary (Roth) Gabriel. She married John Urban on May 26, 1951 in Detroit. They resided in Warren where she made uniforms for the local catholic schools and coached girls basketball, baseball and softball teams for many years. In 1979 Bernice and her family moved to West Branch where she and her husband bought The Barn Door Restaurant and operated it until 1983. In 1997 she and her husband moved to Lake Isabella where she was owner of a thriving internet business. She was a woman who loved life and lived it to the fullest. Her world revolved around her family and was always her top priority. She adored the water and enjoyed fishing, boating, swimming, gardening and hunting. Bernice is survived by her husband of 54 years, John Urban; one son and five daughters, John (Larysa) Urban of Chesterfield Township, Elly (Greg Fodell of Houston, TX, Mary (Al) Helminski of Soldotna, Alaska, Elaine (Kim) Fox of Clarkston, Jennifer (David) DeMatio of West Branch, and Annette (Todd) Kotecki of Lake Isabella; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; six brothers, Leonard Gabriel of Detroit, Bernard Mickey (Theresa) Gabriel of Traverse City, James (Delores) Gabriel of Minnesota, Gregory (Edith Ann) Gabriel of Soldotna, Alaska, Timothy Gabriel of Marine City, and Raymond Gabriel of Anchorage, Alaska; four sisters, Marie (Lawrence) Sidebottom of Sand Lake, Virginia Rinke of Indian River, Joan (Rodney) Brunton of California, and Sister Monica Gabriel of Racine, Wisc.; brother-in-law, Frank Richason of Minneapolis, Minn.; sister-in-law, Fran Gabriel of Warren; mother-in-law, Eleanor Urban of Mt. Pleasant; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Anne in 1965; two brothers, Edward and Richard Bobby ; and three sisters, Delores Gabriel, Phyllis Lemanski, and Lorraine Richason. She was a treasure to all who had the pleasure to meet her. She will be sadly missed by her loving family and a host of loyal and old friends whom she adored. Glory be the day when we shall be with her again.