May 27, 1933 – January 25, 2026
On Sunday, January 25, 2026, at the age of 92, after a brief stay in the hospital, Bernice went home to be with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
II Corinthians 5:8
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” Bernice was born and raised on a farm in Nolalu, where she worked hard during her youth. She walked many miles along roads and through bush trails to get to school and visit neighbors. She married Bruno Niemi and raised six children. For a time she worked at the Nolalu store. Later in life, she took some high school classes through correspondence and also attended Confederation College where she became a certified Red Cross Homemaker. She also cared for her elderly mother. With a creative flair, Bernice sewed her own clothes, dresses, and quilts. She enjoyed knitting socks for family members, friends, and those in need. Crocheting afghans, baby blankets, and hats was another favorite hobby of hers alongside needlepoint, Swedish weaving, and cross stitch. While taking art classes at the college and the 55 Plus Center, she created numerous paintings and drawings. As an artist, she explored various mediums including oil paint, acrylics, watercolors as well as pen-and-ink drawings; sketching with pencil and colored pencils were also part of her artistic expression. A member of the Thunder Bay Writers Guild as well as the Poetry Guild, Bernice wrote several poems throughout her life. She loved listening to music and reading books too. She even tried writing a gospel song titled “The Master’s Hand,” which was sung by Lexi Summers with music composed by Chris Pythila. In the mid-1980s Bruno and Bernice moved to Thunder Bay; that’s when Bernice began attending Intola Baptist Church over 40 years ago-always eager for teachings from God’s Holy Word found in the King James Bible. She read it often making notes on verses that resonated with her or sermons that struck a chord. A verse that hung in her living room was: Acts 16:31
“.. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,..”
She had a strong wish for family members and friends to know Jesus as their savior; she prayed often for them to believe. She was predeceased by her parents Waino and Ilmi Kuster; husband Bruno Niemi; brother Elmer Kuster; sister Irene Blomfeldt; brothers-in-law Eugene (Charlie) Niemi; Roy Niemi; Gordon Blomfeldt; Chris Sullivan; Walter Simmonen; Arvo Erickson; sisters-in-law Linnea Niemi; Rachel Sullivan; Miriam Simmonen; son-in-law Edwin Kivela; grandsons David Tough and Nathan Niemi; nephews Gary Niemi; Gary Blomfeldt; Howard Erickson; Rudy Simmonen-and niece Doreen Winters. Bernice is survived by six children: Elaine Kivela; Colleen Tough (Don); Brian Niemi (Dawn); Janet Koski (Don); Gayle Johnson (Patrick); Terry Niemi (Lisa).
She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren along with twenty-two great-grandchildren-and looked forward eagerly to welcoming her first great-great-grandchild who is on the way-sister Viola Gonyou (Gordie), sisters-in-law Beverley Niemi & Anja Kuster-as well as many nieces nephews cousins. We will miss Bernice. We love you Mom Grandma Great Grandma. A heartfelt thanks goes out to all doctors nurses student nurses who cared for Bernice during this time-and thank you to everyone who offered condolences. John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The body will not stay in grave-it will rise again one day! I Thessalonians 4:16
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout-with voice of archangel-with trump of God-and dead in Christ shall rise first:” A service celebrating Bernice’s life will take place at 11:00 am on Thursday February 19th ,2026 , in Everest Funeral Chapel ,299 Waverley Street at Algoma officiated by Pastor Len Nolan. Visitation starts one hour before service time. The arrangements are handled by Everest Funeral Home. Please sign online condolences at everestofthunderbay. com
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” Bernice was born and raised on a farm in Nolalu, where she worked hard during her youth. She walked many miles along roads and through bush trails to get to school and visit neighbors. She married Bruno Niemi and raised six children. For a time she worked at the Nolalu store. Later in life, she took some high school classes through correspondence and also attended Confederation College where she became a certified Red Cross Homemaker. She also cared for her elderly mother. With a creative flair, Bernice sewed her own clothes, dresses, and quilts. She enjoyed knitting socks for family members, friends, and those in need. Crocheting afghans, baby blankets, and hats was another favorite hobby of hers alongside needlepoint, Swedish weaving, and cross stitch. While taking art classes at the college and the 55 Plus Center, she created numerous paintings and drawings. As an artist, she explored various mediums including oil paint, acrylics, watercolors as well as pen-and-ink drawings; sketching with pencil and colored pencils were also part of her artistic expression. A member of the Thunder Bay Writers Guild as well as the Poetry Guild, Bernice wrote several poems throughout her life. She loved listening to music and reading books too. She even tried writing a gospel song titled “The Master’s Hand,” which was sung by Lexi Summers with music composed by Chris Pythila. In the mid-1980s Bruno and Bernice moved to Thunder Bay; that’s when Bernice began attending Intola Baptist Church over 40 years ago-always eager for teachings from God’s Holy Word found in the King James Bible. She read it often making notes on verses that resonated with her or sermons that struck a chord. A verse that hung in her living room was: Acts 16:31
“.. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,..”
She had a strong wish for family members and friends to know Jesus as their savior; she prayed often for them to believe. She was predeceased by her parents Waino and Ilmi Kuster; husband Bruno Niemi; brother Elmer Kuster; sister Irene Blomfeldt; brothers-in-law Eugene (Charlie) Niemi; Roy Niemi; Gordon Blomfeldt; Chris Sullivan; Walter Simmonen; Arvo Erickson; sisters-in-law Linnea Niemi; Rachel Sullivan; Miriam Simmonen; son-in-law Edwin Kivela; grandsons David Tough and Nathan Niemi; nephews Gary Niemi; Gary Blomfeldt; Howard Erickson; Rudy Simmonen-and niece Doreen Winters. Bernice is survived by six children: Elaine Kivela; Colleen Tough (Don); Brian Niemi (Dawn); Janet Koski (Don); Gayle Johnson (Patrick); Terry Niemi (Lisa).
She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren along with twenty-two great-grandchildren-and looked forward eagerly to welcoming her first great-great-grandchild who is on the way-sister Viola Gonyou (Gordie), sisters-in-law Beverley Niemi & Anja Kuster-as well as many nieces nephews cousins. We will miss Bernice. We love you Mom Grandma Great Grandma. A heartfelt thanks goes out to all doctors nurses student nurses who cared for Bernice during this time-and thank you to everyone who offered condolences. John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The body will not stay in grave-it will rise again one day! I Thessalonians 4:16
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout-with voice of archangel-with trump of God-and dead in Christ shall rise first:” A service celebrating Bernice’s life will take place at 11:00 am on Thursday February 19th ,2026 , in Everest Funeral Chapel ,299 Waverley Street at Algoma officiated by Pastor Len Nolan. Visitation starts one hour before service time. The arrangements are handled by Everest Funeral Home. Please sign online condolences at everestofthunderbay. com
