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Duello, Berniece
Berniece Duello, 95, of Vinton, died Monday, Dec. 9, 2013, at the Vinton Lutheran Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton, with Father Ardel Barta as Celebrant. Visitation will be held at the church from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, with a recitation of the rosary at 4 p.m. and a Scripture service at 7 p.m. Visitation also will be held one hour before Mass Thursday at the church. Interment will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Vinton.
Berniece was born Feb. 22, 1918, in Norway, Iowa, the daughter of Albert and Anna Ockenfels Fritz. She graduated from Norway High School and taught country school southwest of Watkins. On June 18, 1940, Berniece was united in marriage with Paul J. Duello at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Watkins. She stopped teaching full time to raise her family and farm with her husband. Paul preceded Berniece in death on April 15, 1967.
When Berniece was in her 50s, she received her Bachelor's degree in Education from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. She taught sixth grade in Urbana and Vinton.
Berniece was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton and had a great devotion to God and Mary. She was one of the first Eucharistic ministers to take communion to the sick in the Vinton area and she was also one of the founders of the Altar and Rosary Society at St. Mary's. She handmade thousands of Rosaries that were sent to missions worldwide.
Berniece is survived by three sons, Robert (Leita) Duello of Brandon, Dennis Duello of Vinton and Roger (Diana) Duello of Brandon; four daughters, Diane (Kurt) Buckingham of Vinton, LeAnn (Mark) Thieman of Fort Collins, Colo., Mary (Ray) Panosh of Manchester and Theresa Duello of Madison, Wis.; four sisters; 15 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, Keith Duello; and three brothers.
A memorial fund has been established for various charities.
Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Berniece and her family.
Condolences may be left at .
Published in The Gazette Dec. 11, 2013.
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