Lela Hand

LELA HAND

Center Point

Lela Berniece (Shaffer) Hand, 94, a lifelong resident of Center Point, died Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014, of ovarian cancer. Funeral service: 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion. The family will greet friends from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Private family burial: Lafayette Cemetery, rural Alburnett.

Survivors include her three daughters, Phyllis (Kenny) Jones of Hiawatha, Betty (Larry) McBurney of Toddville and Rosie (Mitch) Robinson of Cedar Falls; nine grandchildren, Todd (Kiate) Jones, Ty (Christy) Jones, Tia (Howard) Freuhling, Kale (Tina) McBurney, Kala Liebe, John (Lisa) Ashlock, Suzanne (Warren) Bellinger, Vanessa (Chris) McFarland and Sean (Mia) Robinson; 21 great-grandchildren, Madison, Austin, Jackson, Tyler, Shelby, Shianne, Vienna, Mason, Reid, Madelyn, Devyn, Kaitlyn, Hailey, Carlea, Cierra, Kaleb, Kean, Kalina, Dylan, DeLoss, and the most recent born in July, her namesake, Lela Robinson; and sister-in-law, Donna Mae Stephenson.

Besides the death of her beloved husband, Phil, on March 23, 2008, Berniece endured the tragic and untimely deaths of her son, Allen "Buzz" Hand, on Jan. 12, 2004; her daughter-in-law, Pam in 2007; her son-in-law and granddaughter, David and Emily Krsek in 1981; and granddaughter-in-law, Jenny Jones in 2004. They (and numerous friends) will be welcoming her in Heaven.

Berniece, as she was known, was born south of Troy Mills, on Aug. 3, 1920, to Emmet and Rose (Schuch) Shaffer. During her teenage years, Berniece was active in 4-H, where she had numerous Grand Champion beef cattle. After graduating from Troy Mills High School, Berniece attended Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls. Upon college completion, she taught school at the McNeil School No. 8.

On May 3, 1941, Berniece married Philip Hand. They moved to the Hand Family Farmstead (where Philip was born) and she resided there for 73 years. To this union were born their four children. Berniece was so proud of being a farmer's wife, she could work in the fields and still have full-course meals on the table. After learning of Buzz's disability, she became very active with the Mother's Club for severely handicapped children and was a pioneer of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).

Most will remember Berniece as the best cake decorator in the state. Not only were her cakes beautiful, but they were tasty as well. She will long be remembered as a very loving, caring, generous and friendly woman who never met a stranger. She loved dancing and one of her favorite pastimes was going to the casino. One never left her home without having something to eat. We are all blessed to have had her touch our lives.

Berniece's family would like to express gratitude to all who supported her and her family during her illness, including Hospice of Mercy, Hiawatha Care Center, Summit Pointe Senior Living Community and all of their dear family and friends.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Mercy, Camp Courageous or a charity of your choice in memory of Berniece.

Please share a memory of Berniece at www.murdoch

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