Jane Woo Bernard

Jane Woo Bernard, 77, a resident of Spring Valley township, Xenia Ohio died November 9 of complications from bypass surgery. She is survived by her husband Robert, her daughter Deborah and her two grandsons, Keith and Kevin.

She was born in Nanking China in 1936 and lived in Shanghai and Hong Kong until coming to the United States as a foreign student in 1956. While studying at Southern Illinois University she was introduced to her future husband by her future mother-in-law.

She and Robert were married the day after he graduated from West Point and she was an Army wife for the next 20 years, living on or near Army bases all around the United States and Germany.

Despite chronic health problems with Lupus, she worked as a banker and manager until her retirement, and was active in Red Cross volunteer work. Her hobbies included gardening, embroidery and gourmet cooking. When her kidneys failed in 1997 she was fortunate enough to receive a transplant which served her well until her heart attack and bypass surgery.

Following the death of her father, she was her mother's primary caregiver. She did all a daughter could do with style and grace for 24 years.

It is ironic that she died of a heart attack, for no heart had more kindness, empathy and love.