Bernice Begg Morris, a lifelong resident of Dutchess County, died on Sunday, November 4, 2018 at the Thompson House in Rhinebeck. She was 92.

Daughter of the late Sterling and Eunice (Rutherford) Begg, she was born in Wappingers Falls on May 4, 1926. In 1943, Bernice graduated from Wappingers High School, where she played basketball and tennis. She then enrolled in the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising in New York City. Following her graduation from college, she worked as a comparison shopper for Lerner’s and Macy’s and also worked as a hat model. She was employed by IBM in from 1952 to 1961, and most recently worked as a Real Estate Agent for Berkshire Hathaway (formerly Prudential Serls) Real Estate.

She and her family resided on Wheeler Hill Road in Wappingers Falls from 1958 to 1998. Bernice was a parishioner of St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Fishkill. She enjoyed visiting local libraries, including the Howland Public Library in Beacon, where she participated in “Brain Games”; the Blodgett Memorial Library in Fishkill, where she attended various gatherings; and the Grinnell Library in Wappingers Falls.

Bernice’s hobbies included the stock market, knitting, sewing, and gardening.

On July 24, 1948, she married Patrick E. Morris, Jr. in Wappingers Falls. She was predeceased by Patrick on March 23, 1987.

Survivors include her daughter, Gail Rau & her husband Richard of Pleasant Valley; her son, Patrick Morris, III of Troy; and her daughter, Jill O’Sullivan & her husband Matthew of Wakefield, RI; her grandchildren, Lucas Rau & his wife Sarah, Abby Rau, Patrick Morris, IV, Aidan O’Sullivan, and Tessa O’Sullivan; her great-grandchildren, Lucas Rau, Jr. and Emilie Rau; her brothers, Edwin Begg and William Begg; her lifelong friend, Jean Marie (Gilmore) Coons; her especially beloved cousins, “The Grogans”; also many nieces, nephews, and other loving relatives & friends. Bernice was blessed to be surrounded by a group of wonderful neighbors.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was also predeceased by her sister, Agnes Wyant.

Calling hours will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 7 at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 8 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street, Fishkill. Interment will follow at Fishkill Rural Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 1200 Hosford Street, Suite 101, Hudson, WI 54016-9316 (www.lung.org) or the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 (www.cancer.org)

For directions and online tributes, you can visit Bernice’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.