Bertha W. Carberry, age 85, of Prospect Street, Munising, died unexpectedly following a lengthy illness of Alzheimer’s Disease on Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 12:40 a.m. at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising. She was born on January 31, 1923 at Forest Lake to Jacob and Elina (Muurmaki) Piippo. Bertha graduated from Eben High School and on December 4, 1948, she married Jack S. Carberry. Bertha worked for George Baldwin as a legal secretary. She worked for him when he was a lawyer and then continued with him when he became Judge. Bertha then worked for his son-in-law, Charles Stark when he became Judge. She was the court reporter for the District and Circuit Courts, and Bertha retired in the early 1980’s after many years of service. She was an active and faithful member of Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham. Bertha served several positions on the church council and taught Bible and Sunday School. She was a lifetime member of the Legion Auxiliary and former member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Business and Profession Women’s Club. Bertha was a member of the PTA when her daughters were young and taught them to sew as their 4-H leader. She enjoyed playing bingo, vacationing with her family in Florida, shopping with her daughters, and making gingerbread cookies with her grandchildren.
Bertha is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years – Jack Carberry of Munising; daughters and sons-in-law – Sharon and Roger Isberg of Jenison, MI and Patti and Bruce Dewey of Galesburg, MI; grandchildren – Jacqueline (Jimmy) Knight, Brian Dewey, and Michael Isberg; great-grandson – Chase Knight; brother – William Piippo of the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette; sister – Elma Mellin of Munising; sisters-in-law – Barbara Carberry of Harvey and Priscilla Lindquist of Munising; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Walter, Edward, Eino, and Hugo Piippo.
Visitation will be held on Sunday evening at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and also at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Bertha’s funeral service will be conducted by Pastor Paul Kelto on Monday, September 22, 2008 at the Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham.
