Bernice Gertrude Stiffelman

Bernice was the only child of David Ofner and Ida Hyman. Her parents lived at the 5200 block of MacPherson in St. Louis city. They traveled to Egypt, and doted on their daughter.

Bernice's grandfather Albert Ofner came to Illinois from Aufhausen, Germany, to live with relatives in Belleville. He met and married Mary Kohn, born in Pilsen, Bohemia. In 1886 he renounced his loyalty to the Emperor of Germany and became an American citizen. Albert and Mary settled in South St. Louis and ran a bakery on Arsenal across from “The Insane Asylum.” They raised five children above their store, and became active with B’nai El. Once their son David learned English at school and taught his parents, German was no longer spoken in the Ofner home.

Bernice married Joe Stiffelman, a widow with a five-year daughter Joy, around 1923. They lived at 338 Melville in University City, and had 3 children together. After about 15 years, they divorced, and she took her three children to California. Her father purchased her a house at 4150 Klump Avenue in North Hollywood (91602). She raised her three children there. Sherm does not recall her having a job outside the home. At the time of her death, she was close only to her eldest Ross.