Bernice (Campbell) Cahill

Bernice Cahill, formerly of Greenfield, died in Spring Hill, FL., on 4/20/2023, exactly one week before her 102nd birthday.

     Bernice was born on 4/27/1921, to Mary (Foley) and John Campbell and resided in Turners Falls. She attended local schools and graduated from Turners Falls High School, Class of 1938. She went onto further her education at Malden Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated as a Registered Nurse.

     She did a significant amount of private duty nursing in Franklin County and worked many years at the Farren Hospital as well as the Greenfield Visiting Nurses Association. In her 40’s, she changed careers and became a supervisor for what is now known as the Department of Transitional Assistance, where she remained until she retired.

     Bernice married Lieutenant Joseph Condraski, a pilot in the US Army Air Corps, in 1942. They had a daughter, Joanne (Robert) Donovan, of Fairport NY.  Lieutenant Condraski was killed in action in 1944.

     She went on to marry James Cahill of Greenfield, in 1948. They had a daughter, Kathleen, of Spring Hill, FL.  They were married for 20 years before his untimely passing in 1968.

     In addition to her daughters, Bernice leaves behind 3 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, Tim (Lesley) Donovan, Kari (Chris) Strefelt and their children Michael and Thomas, and Jennifer McCoy and her children Ryleigh, Jaiden, Camron, Isabella and Katy. 

     Bernice had a zest for life and was a woman who saw the “glass half full”.  She appreciated entertainment of all kinds and loved to travel.

     She was an avid golfer and was thrilled to shoot a hole in one at the former Oak Ridge Golf Course. She liked playing Pitch with friends and enjoyed cooking and walking her beloved dogs, Sadie and Oreo.

      A loyal Red Sox fan, she attended many games at Fenway Park and followed Syracuse University Football and Basketball.  Back in 1961, on one of her many visits to Syracuse University, she asked a student for directions and this young man introduced himself as Ernie Davis, who went on to win the Heisman Trophy that year.  She never forgot this.

     Bernice loved to read, and when Macular Degeneration claimed her eyesight, she found comfort in listening to books from the Bureau of Braille and Talking Books Library Services in MA. and FL. She was very grateful for these talking books and recommended them to anyone with limited eyesight. 

     A mass will be held on 4/29/2023 at 11:00 at Blessed Sacrament Church with burial at Calvary Cemetery.

     In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations in her name be made to the Friends of Greenfield Public Library, 402 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301.

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