Bernice Mary Montalva, age 95, died peacefully on February 24, 2016 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She was born in Sibley, Illinois on August 8, 1920, the daughter of Pearl and Margaret Brucker. She married Frank Montalva on November 27, 1946 in California, where they lived until moving to Wheaton, Illinois in 1952.

She taught school in Illinois for 20 years, the last 14 years in Carol Stream. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton, where she was active with the Afternoon Circle and the Joy Group and Altar Guild. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association of IL, the Community Nursing Bridge group and other bridge groups.

She is survived by her daughters, Diane Lipman, Joanne (Donald) Clifford, Annette (Martin) Cohen and Mary (Lee) Sienkowski, fourteen grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers, Arnold and Richard Brucker.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, Frank, two sisters, two brothers and her parents.

A funeral will be held on Monday, February 29, at 11:00 am at St. John Lutheran Church, 410 N. Cross, Wheaton. Friends may visit with the family prior to the service from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. Interment is at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois at 2:30 p.m.

Memorials may be given to St. John Lutheran Church, 410 N. Cross Wheaton, Illinois 60187, or the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.