Obituary final draft

Bertha K. Cherney, a great cook, gardener and phenomenal card player, who spent most of her serving others over herself, passed away in her Muskegon Heights home Thursday evening, Feb. 12, 2005, following a cancer-related illness. She was 88.

Bertha was born Jan. 22, 1916 in Muskegon Heights. to Paul and Francis (Woppel)Goodman. She spent most of her childhood reading fictional novels, drawing pictures of the countryside where her grandparents lived and playing backyard sports with her two brothers. She attended elementary school at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Muskegon. However, she was only able to complete 6th grade, due to her mother needing her to remain at home to help out with cooking, cleaning and baby-sitting her younger brothers and sisters. One quality that Bertha will be remembered by was her ability to cook, which she learned from her mother Francis at a very young age.

When Bertha was 19, she married James Martin Cherney Sr. in Muskegon on Jan. 26, 1935, and he preceded her death on Mar. 6, 1982. During World War 11, when James Sr. went to France to fight in the war, Berth left her home and went to work in the factories. She was employed for twenty years at George Morrell Co., a button factory in Muskegon. She later went to work at C.W.C (Campbell Wyam & Cannon) another factory in the area. Bertha retired from C.W.C in 1975 and returned home to take care of her grandchildren.

Bertha and James Sr. were very active in church and non-profit organizations in the Muskegon Heights area. They spent much of their time volunteering at the local V.F.W serving food to the poor during the holiday season and contributed their time to their church. Bertha was a member of both Sacred Heart Catholic Church and St. Mary's of the Woods Catholic Church. She served on the Sacred Heart Catholic Church fundraising committee for twenty years and served as a lector during mass. Bertha was very active at Sacred Heart Church on Sundays, where she was the head cook for the after-mass meals in the church basement. Bertha’s commitment to her church reflected what an extraordinary person she was and how she lived her life serving God. Being a good Christian was something Bertha carried with her everyday, ironically carrying her rosary in her back pocket to say a prayer when left alone. Bertha held many local missionary positions with Sacred Heart Church in attempt to educate non-Christian residents of Muskegon about Catholicism.

Bertha was also a member of First Catholic Slovak Union (Tatra Hall), the Neighborhood Block Rosary and Our Lady Fatima Novina. Bertha was always a familiar face at Tatra Hall where she met up with her friends to play cards. Playing cards was one of Bertha’s passions. She would play cards at least three times a week, whether it was at Tatra Hall or other friends houses. Bertha was a card player’s dream because she would always bake something for those long nights of card playing.

She also loved to bowl with her sisters, sister-in-laws and friends. Bertha’s other hobbies included crochet, dance, and gardening. Gardening was a way for Bertha to be outside on those warm summer days and a way of spending time with her grandchildren by having them help her water the plants. Whether it was gardening or bowling, Bertha shared her free time with her family and friends. Bertha celebrated her 88th birthday with her two brothers and younger sister in a huge joint birthday party that celebrated their long-lived lives. Of course, Bertha was in charge of making all the traditional German dishes.

She is survived by 1 daughter, Connie J. Cherney of Whitehall; 2 brothers, John G. "Spitz" Goodman of Fruitport and Victor "Zucko" Goodman of Muskegon Hts; 1 sister, Eleanor M.Hornik of Muskegon Hts.; 5 grandchildren, James Cherney, David Cherney, Mark Balkema, Sherri Mierendorf and Michael Balkema; and 17 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by son, James " Sonny" Jr.; and an infant sister, Francis Goodman, and a sister, Irene Arnold. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.