Bernice L. (Mensch) Twichell,

Wellsville, NY - Bernice L. (Mensch) Twichell, age 82, passed away on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at the Wellsville Manor Care Center in Wellsville, NY.  Bernice was born on May 9, 1931 to the late James and Mildred (Kester) Millard in Bloomsburg, PA.

Bernice grew up in the Bloomsburg, PA area with her two sisters, Mary Millard and Jean (Elmer) Hartzell, along with her favorite Aunt, Martha (Kester) Hower, all of whom have preceded her in death.  Bernice met and married Harmon (Bill) Mensch, Jr., also from the Bloomsburg area, in 1950.  Together they raised their children, moving from Bloomsburg, PA to the Rochester, NY and then to the Conesus, NY area until Harmon's death in 1975.

After Harmon's death Bernice met and married Lawrence A. Twichell moving to Friendship, NY where they spent the next 20 years until Lawrence's death in 1997.  Bernice continued to reside in Friendship, NY until her move to the Wellsville Manor Care Center in 2009.  

In her later years, Bernice enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, great grandchildren, tending to her her pet birds and dogs.   She also liked to draw and paint.  She enjoyed creating oil, watercolor and colored pencil paintings and drawings in her spare time.  Her art was awarded and featured in showings around Allegany County.

Bernice is survived by four of her children, Harmon W. Mensch III of Seagrove, NC, Carol (James) McAlpine of Rochester, NY, James (Jason) Mensch of Wellsville, NY and Mary La Belle of Friendship, NY.  Her son, Rodney Mensch preceded her in death in 1961.

Bernice is also survived by 7 grandchildren:  Gary (Katie) O'Donnell, James La Belle, Jessica (Duke) Kemp,   Jeanean Hiller (David) Alvarez, Jennifer Hiller (Randy) Edwards, Clair J (Autumn) Hiller, Jessica Hiller (Kenneth) Hornung, along with 6 great grandchildren:  Thomas, Michael, Caleb, Ayden, Courtney, Kaleb, and several nieces and nephews. 

At Bernice's request, there will be no public visitation or funeral. Burial will be in the Millville Pennsylvania Cemetery.  There will be a celebration of her life held at a later date. 

The family suggests memorial donations be made to the American Heart Association. www.heart.org/heartorg/. 

To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com