Bernice Propst Kendall, 89 of Durham, Maine; passed away suddenly on Christmas Day, December 25, 2016, at her home in Durham, Maine.

Bernice was born on Oak Road in Vineland, NJ to her parents,  Waitman and Lenora Propst. She was educated in the Vineland school system and was Valedictorian of her high school class. Although her family could not afford to send her to college….she educated herself and started on a long and prestigious career of increasing responsibility as administrative assistants to several of the state's top CEO's/executives. However her greatest love and achievement was becoming the personal secretary to Bernard Brown, chairman and CEO of NFI Industries. This role also led her to become the valued friend and assistant to all of the Brown family including Sid, Anne, Ike, Jeff as well as Mr. & Mrs. Brown. She loved them all dearly………Bernice's family is incredibly grateful for their undying love and friendship. Bernice worked for Mr. Brown until she finally retired at 80 years of age.

Bernice married briefly and had a son Kevin whom she loved more than life itself. It was very difficult to be a single mother in the 60's and 70's; yet she did it. Her sacrifices, encouragement and love helped her son to not only be the first one in the family to graduate college but to also graduate medical school and complete a surgical and an emergency medicine residency. When her health started to decline, she reluctantly left NJ for Maine and built a house next to her son's.

Bernice loved going to auctions and collecting many things including cut glass, dolls, figurines and stamps.  She also loved cooking and watching the cooking channels on TV. Mom was perhaps the most intelligent person I knew; and I think that all will agree, it was her way or the highway……….Mom also had a very tender spot in her heart for animals, especially cats. She leaves her two wonderful silver Maine Coon Cats Coco and MacKenzie.  Bernice was also very active in her church – The Haddonfield United Methodist Church; her spirituality and love for her God never wavered.

Mom's health started to decline the day that she retired; When her health started to rapidly decline, she reluctantly moved to Maine and built a house next door to her sons' which she was able to enjoy for several years…….Her independence and remaining in her home was very important to her; when her doctor took her driver's license away, she worked tirelessly to get it back, even taking driving lessons again though she only drove to her hair salon once a week.

Bernice is survived by her son Dr. Kevin M. Kendall of Durham, Maine. Her grandson Evan Kendall of Burlington, Vermont and her nephew David Kroelinger of  Menifee, California. She also had many special friends who touched her life for many decades; in addition to the entire Brown family, she also had many friends that she loved including The Harpers from Cherry Hill, NJ,  Joan Gorman, from Quarrysville, PA., The Nyczs' from Delaware, Meg Vosmus from New Gloucester, Maine and Jennifer Hanson from Harpswell, Maine who provided excellent care for her during the final months of her life.

Because of logistics and the declining health of her son, there will not be any funeral services at this time. A memorial service in Vineland will be held this summer around the time of her 90 ^th birthday. Details will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to the: Greater Androscoggin Humane Society

55 Strawberry Ave. Lewiston, ME 04240

Please visit www.wbfuneralhome.com to share condolences with the family.

Arrangements are in the care of WAINWRIGHT-BERNHARDT Funeral Home, Vineland.