Bernice Reyenga

Bernice Fielding Reyenga was born on January 16, 1922, in Sutton, Arkansas, to Cora Waddell Fielding and George Pierce Fielding and passed away on March 5, 2018, at home surrounded by her loving family. Bernice and her twin sister, Maurice, were the youngest of 9 children. Her brothers: Fletcher, Wells, Morris, and Jack have all preceded her in death as have her sisters: Elva Reese, Esther Reese, Louise Stinnett, and her twin, Maurice Davenport Richard. Bernice's husband of 72 years, Earl Reyenga, passed away in 2012. Also, their daughter, Jenice Karam preceded her in death. Bernice was a proud Christian with strong Scottish and English Christian heritage, including multiple Presbyterian and Methodist ministers in her background. She was a homemaker, except for a brief WWII stint, working for Consolidated Aircraft as a "Rosie the Riveter," before her husband left to fight in the war. She was an excellent cook and seamstress as well as an expert flower and vegetable gardener, and fishing and shopping were her favorite pastimes. She was devoted to her daughters and to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who called her MeMaw. Mrs. Reyenga is survived by her daughters, Donna Prater of Benton, LA and Jeannie Smith of Buffalo Grove, IL; grandchildren, Denise Prater Blohm, Keith Prater and wife Beth of Bossier City, LA, Jeremy Smith and wife Ramona of Buffalo Grove, IL, Jennifer Moraw Puyear and husband Michael, David Karam and wife Nancy Jane, and Richard Karam of Arlington, VA; and great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Blohm of Baton Rouge, LA, Kyle Blohm of Ruston, LA, Cori Prater of Vicksburg, MS, Colton Prater of College Station, TX, Emily Puyear, Carson Puyear, Fahy Karam, Mary Collins Karam, and Caroline Smith of Buffalo Grove, IL. Mrs. Reyenga is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Reyenga and her husband were members of Christ United Methodist Church for over 52 years. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 9, 2018 at the NW LA Veterans Cemetery in Keithville, LA with family member and retired Methodist minister, Rev. Dan Hoke of Jefferson, TX officiating. A memorial service will follow at Christ United Methodist Church at 11:30 a.m. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 8, 2018 at Rose-Neath Southside Chapel. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and great-grandsons. The family would like to thank Dr. James Jackson, Southern Care Hospice, Home Instead, and Mrs. Reyenga's devoted caregivers: Julia Gilkey, Norma Davis, Jessie Snow, Claire Teliaferro, Amber Fitzgerald, and Michelle Smith. Memorials may be made to Christ United Methodist Church, Asbury United Methodist Church Prayer Garden, or to the charity of donor's choice.