Bernice Signer

Bernice Signer was born on March 30th, 1919 in New York, NY.

She was the eldest daughter of Jacob (Jack) and Miriam (May) Speisman and had a younger brother Joseph (Joe, Sonny) Speisman who pre-deceased her in July of 2002.

Jacob Speisman immigrated here on the eve of the Russian Revolution escaping with his family with just the clothes on their back. Miriam Speisman was born Miriam Radner in Harlem, NY at the turn of the 20th Century also to Russian immigrants.

There is some mystery surrounding Bernice in that according to her own recounts and that of her father, she was actually born under another name. Jacob having just escaped the horrors of Eastern Europe was afraid of someone finding her. Added to this was that Bernice had us all believe for many years that she was younger than she actually was, seems a lot of women of this generation had a tendency to do this. So when it came time years later to show proof of her citizenship we came up empty handed. It was only thru her voter registration that we could prove she was a US citizen.

She learned to cook and bake by her Mother's side and since May kept everything in her head. Bernice had the presence of mind to record all of May's wonderful baking recipes so that we can still enjoy those treats today.

Upon graduating from Jefferson High School in the Bronx, Bernice worked as a bookkeeper for various companies. It was at Atlas Supply Company that she met her husband, William Signer. A widower with one son, Robert M. Signer, (born November 21, 1945) the two were wed on August 10th, 1958 in the Bronx, NY.

Two years later on October 5th, 1960 she gave birth to a daughter Caryn Idele Signer.

She was predeceased by her husband in May of 1980 and her nephew Gil Slucki in 1996.

She unfortunately never became a grandmother but she was a beloved Mother, Sister, Sister-in-law, Aunt and a Great Aunt and a Great Great Aunt.

She leaves behind her son, Robert Signer, her daughter Caryn Signer Raimondi, her son-in-law Michael E. Raimondi, Pearl and Sam Alvo, her Nieces and Nephews, Sheila & Peter Gluck, Larry & Donna Signer, Leah & Steven Weissman, Marlene & Louis Marcus, Ruth & Jamie Bodner, Anna Slucki, Robin Lay, Lauren Speisman and Michael Speisman. Her great nieces and nephews; David & Lisa Leicht, Sherri Signer, Lisa & Matt Culley, Jamie & Michelle Weissman, Jennifer Weissman, Sharon Marcus, Clarissa Marcus, Melody Bodner, Rebecca Lay, Jocelyn Lay and her 6 great, great nieces and nephews.