(Earlville)
Mrs. Berenice D. Osborne, 93 of South Main Street, Earlville, NY, passed peacefully on July 9, 2019 at her home. She was cared for and surrounded by her loving family during her last few weeks. Bernie was an enthusiastic supporter of her community and was happiest when surrounded by family and friends.
Berenice was born June 6, 1926 in Sangerfield, NY to Thomas H. and Elizabeth (Ryder) Dunn. She graduated in 1944 from Waterville Central School where she was active in the drama club, orchestra and chorus. She was a proud graduate of SUNY Morrisville. Bernie loved her college experiences and the people she met became her lifelong friends. One of her favorite stories was when the “guys” let the pigs loose in the halls of the “girls” dorm. Upon graduation, she was a cook at the Canastota Central School cafeteria for a number of years.
On December 27, 1948 she married Phillip J. Osborne at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Waterville, NY. Mr. Osborne passed in January 2000. Settling in Earlville with Phil, her first employment was as a switchboard telephone operator. During the 1950’s “The Telephone Company” was housed on the second floor of the old Earlville post office. This was when there were two digits and one letter for each residence phone line and a number of families were on a “party” line.
Bernie was a short-order cook at Gener’s Dairy Bar during the 1960’s. She enjoyed the people of Morrisville and loved her coworkers! During 1970 she became the cook at the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at Colgate University. She made three meals each day for over 80 Colgate students. She continued to receive letters, holiday cards and notes from graduates.
To compliment her full-time job, Mrs. Osborne sold AVON products in the Earlville area for 51 years. Everybody knew Bernie! She was a successful representative and earned many awards for her sales. She was a member of St. Mary’s Altar and Rosary Society, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Earlville Cemetery Board. Mrs. Osborne was part of the original committee which created the “Smalltown USA” weekend event. The goal was to showcase Earlville and encourage tourism to the region.
Surviving are five daughters and three sons and their families, Mary (Anthony, deceased) DiCesare of Sherburne, Colleen and John Phillips of Sherburne, Linda and John Maloney of Albany, Holly Larkin of Madison, Debra Osborne of Earlville, James and Susan Osborne of Sherburne, Thomas and Barbara Osborne of Milton, Georgia and Andrew Osborne of Earlville; her beloved grandchildren, Alex, Kenneth and 2nd Lieutenant Kelsey A. Osborne; J.P., Robert, Benjamin and Molly Osborne; Phiona, Thomas and Lylah Osborne, Sebastian DiCesare, Christopher and David Phillips; her sisters, Patricia D. Youngs of Waterville, NY and Helen A. Dunn of Clinton, NY; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.She was preceded in death by her sister, Mary D. Brennan and brothers Raymond and George Dunn as well as brothers-in-law Vincent Brennan and Jack R. Youngs and sisters-in-law Helen W. Dunn and Luella Dunn.
Bernie’s family extends a warm thank you to friend, Roxanne Waldruff.
A deep appreciation is extended to our sister, Deb for her care, kindness and love as she made it possible for mom to remain in her home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1pm Thursday, July 18, 2019 at St. Mary’s Church, 16 Wylie St., Hamilton, followed by interment in the Earlville Cemetery.
Friends are invited to call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 3 Preston St., Earlville on
Thursday from 10am until 12pm
To send a condolence and sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com