Berniece Elizabeth Griffin

Berniece Elizabeth (Karas) Griffin, 83, passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, September 20, 2009. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 555 Delaware St., Benton Harbor, MI. with Fr. Bill Jacobs officiating. Visitation with the family will take place at 10:00 A.M. prior to the start of Mass at the St. Bernard as well as from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday at Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI with a Rosary Service at 7:00 P.M. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Memorial donations may be directed to Birthright or St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. She was born on March 23, 1926 in Battle Creek, Michigan. Berniece graduated in 1944 from St. Philip Catholic High School in Battle Creek. She married Jack Griffin in 1954 and was married for 50 years before Jack passed away in 2005. After graduating from St. Philip Catholic High School, she went to Washington D.C. to work for the FBI during World War II. While at the FBI Building, she rode on the elevator with J. Edgar Hoover. Then, she worked for ten years at Shane’s Boutique in Battle Creek, MI. After marrying Jack, she became a homemaker and spent the next 29 years raising her children. Berniece was active in the Marion Guild and Birthright in St. Joseph, Michigan. She was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church since 1977. She is survived by her sister, Sister Josephine Karas I.H.S. of Monroe, MI. and her brother, Ivan Karas of Battle Creek, MI. Berniece is also survived by her seven children, eleven grandchildren, two nieces and one nephew. Her children are Linda (Ronald) Hibben of Cedar Falls, IA, Mary (Michael) Sears of Benton Harbor, MI, Elizabeth (Thomas) Kepp of Naples, FL, Charles Griffin, overseas in Iraq, John Griffin of Coloma, MI, Teresa (Craig) Orlando of Benton Harbor, MI and Timothy ( Mindy) Griffin of Portage, MI. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; Parents, Edward and Clara (Krenz) Karas; A sister, Sister Vivian Karas I.H.S. and a brother, Francis Karas.