Cover photo for Bernice Hitchens's Obituary
Bernice Hitchens Profile Photo
1913 Bernice 2012

Bernice Hitchens

November 6, 1913 — March 17, 2012

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at Lane Family Funeral Homes, Canfield Chapel, 65 N. Broad Street for Bernice (Rigby) Hitchens, 98 of Omni Manor Health Care Center who died Saturday morning at Omni Manor, surrounded by her family. Bernice was born November 6, 1913 in Newport, Ohio in a log cabin, one of 16 children born to the late Clarence and Elizabeth Haynes Hartshorn. Bernice graduated in 1931 from Newport High School, where she had played basketball. She was a homemaker and the anchor of her family. She enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family. She loved to travel and had wintered for many years in Bradenton, Florida. Bernice also loved music and had taught herself to play the piano, her first song being, "You are my Sunshine." Her first husband, Frances Rigby whom she married in May 1935, died in September 1964. Her husband George Hitchens whom she married May 5, 1975, died September 2, 2004. She leaves her son, Gary (Mary) Rigby of Austintown; her daughter, Marlene Ditchey of Poland; a brother, Lloyd (Truda) Hartshorn of Marietta, Ohio; 10 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 1 great-great granddaughter and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and her husbands, Bernice was preceded in death by her son Merle Rigby and daughter-in-law, Patricia Rigby; 3 sisters and 11 brothers. Bernice was loved by everyone who met her and will be missed by all. Calling hours will be on Wednesday from 11:30 until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family would like to thank Omni Manor and Hospice of the Valley for the love and special care given to Bernice.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

11:30am - 1:00 pm (Eastern time)

Lane Funeral Home Canfield Chapel

65 North Broad Street, Canfield, OH 44406

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Memorial Service in the Near Future

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Starts at 1:00 pm (Eastern time)

Lane Funeral Home Canfield Chapel

65 North Broad Street, Canfield, OH 44406

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Cemetery

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

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