Bernice (Richardson) Palmtag

Bernice Richardson Palmtag died peacefully at home on September 14, 2022, surrounded by family. Bernice (Bernie) was born in Watsonville on March 10, 1933, the oldest daughter of Alvin and Grace Richardson. After attending local schools and graduating from Watsonville High School in 1951, she attended UC Berkeley and graduated from Highland School of Nursing. Bernice was married to Charles Alvin Palmtag for almost 50 years, and they had four children: Robin, Thomas, Karen and Christine.

Bernice worked as a registered nurse for over 50 years and enjoyed many different fields of study. She had the opportunity to work at the bedside in OB, ER, Critical Care and Medical and Surgical units. She was a Nursing Supervisor at Watsonville Community Hospital and a Director of Nurses at a skilled nursing facility. As a clinical instructor, she helped develop one of the first nurse's aide certification programs in our area through Watsonville Adult Education that touched numerous lives in the nursing field. Bernice worked for several different doctors including Dr. Thomas Deetz as his office nurse for many years.

As a young woman she was a "Straw Boss" berry patch supervisor on her parents' ranch, Worthy Advisor of Rainbow for Girls and was runner up "Freedom Goddess of Liberty" in the Watsonville 4th of July Parade.

Besides belonging to a women's tennis club and a bowling league for many years, Bernice had many hobbies that brought her great joy. She loved gardening, Ikebana, Bonsai, ceramics, quilting and always enjoyed an epicurean venture in cooking. She was an award-winning horticulturist of cactus, succulents, African violets, and orchids. She was an accomplished quilter, having made over 20 hand-stitched quilts for each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren teaching them the tradition of a "quilt turning".

She was one of the founding students of the Watsonville Adult Education ceramics class for many years, making beautiful unique pieces with her specialty being Native American genre. She shared her art, which was on display at the Adult Education office and at the Santa Cruz County Fair.

Bernice, with her husband Charlie, owned and operated a tour company named "Dunderhead Travel". Together they planned and led numerous large trips for their closest friends throughout the northern parts of California to the desert sands of Southern California and Nevada.

Bernice and Charlie belonged to a British Motor Car Club and planned and enjoyed many road trips in their red and yellow MGB's.

She was a lifetime member and past President of Soroptimist International of Watsonville. She attended the United Methodist Church in Watsonville and was blessed with a very loving church family.

Bernice enjoyed having family gatherings. Cooking for family and friends every Sunday which family lovingly referred to as "Sunday night Mooch-a-Meal at the folks". It became a tradition for family and friends to gather for conversation, food and games that has gone on for over 50 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Alvin Palmtag and her two sons Robin and Tom Palmtag. She leaves behind two sisters, Mabel Cole, and Carolyn Gile; two daughters Karen (John) Skillicorn and Christine Palmtag; six grandchildren Joel (Kristel) Palmtag, Cecilia Palmtag Comparini, Michael Palmtag, Mark Palmtag, Kimberly (Phillips Ritmanis) Skillicorn and Matthew (Brittney) Skillicorn; and three great-grandsons Marius Comparini, Quinn Ritmanis and Owen Skillicorn.

A celebration of Bernice's amazing life will be held at 11AM on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at the Watsonville First United Methodist Church, 229 Stanford St., Watsonville. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.

Published in The Pajaronian · September 23, 2022