La Cañada Resident Bernice Mason, Beta Sigma Pi

Bernice Lucille Mason, 88, of La Cañada, died on July 10.

She was born Dec. 25, 1918 to the late Wright Granville Grudem and his wife Mattie Benson Grudem in Brookings, South Dakota.

Because Bernice’s mother passed away shortly after her birth, Bernice was raised by her beloved Aunt Nora and Uncle Albert Lokken.

She moved to California in 1936 to stay with brother Raymond and his family while she attended cosmetology school.

There she met Richard R. Mason in 1937 and they married in 1940.

At the time of his death in 1996, they had been married 54 years, and lovingly referred to each other as “Cookie.”

Bernice enjoyed an extremely busy and active life.

She was employed by the city of Glendale’s building department as a clerk supervisor and retired in 1974.

She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed the company of so many dear friends through the years.

Her greatest enthusiasm aside from all sports, and her love of cats, was her association with the sorority Beta Sigma Phi, which she joined in 1944, and was elected president for 1957-58.

Her friends from that time are too numerous to cite completely, but include Mary Blumenthal, Tillie Cowan, Louella Janes, Tanis Salant, Noama Benson, Izzy Wilson as well as friends and neighbors Tom and Karen Estudillo, Tim Viselli and Lisa Schway, Toni and Bob Blakely, Sharon Bertoni; also her goddaughter, Beverly LaRosa; Igar Vido and family, Harlan and June Larkin.

She was a dear and good friend to so many and will be dearly missed.

She is predeceased by five brothers, Raymond, Victor, Kenneth, Warren and Alvin Grudem.

She is survived by her niece, Jeannine LiVolsi, daughter of Raymond and Marcella Grudem; her children, son Philip LiVolsi and daughter, Trina Liedtka.

Her brother Kenneth and Roberta leave daughters Janet Lauder, Salle Grosenbach and Donna Prittie (they each have several children).