Bernona J. Fry passed away April 23, 2024, after a full life blessed with family and friends. Bernona was born October 12, 1928, in Muskegon Michigan to Carmello and Viola (Murphy) DeCicco. She moved around often during her childhood and teenage years, spending time with her grandparents (Samuel and Mercie Murphy) in Holton, Mich. as a young child; uncle and aunt (R. Austin and Neva Murphy with Joyce) in Holton, Mich. during junior high; and cousins (Dorothea and Howard Sanders with Gerald and Arthur) in White Cloud, Mich. during high school.

Bernona graduated from White Cloud High School in 1947 and moved to Muskegon to work. In 1953, she married Otis Fry and returned to White Cloud. Before starting a family, Bernona and Otis were a driving force behind starting a library and serving as its first librarian. After Otis preceded her in death in 1985, Bernona moved to Auburn Hills, Mich., to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

Bernona enjoyed her time living on Robinson Lake, gardening, sewing, painting, crocheting and attending live theatre, especially at Meadow Brook Theatre. She loved to help people and communities. Through the years, Bernona was active in several United Methodist Churches, including White Cloud, St. Luke's (Rochester Hills), and Troy First. She participated in and led United Methodist Women's groups, Sunday schools, Vacation Bible Schools, and creating costumes for theatrical productions, to name a few. She volunteered with the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Meals on Wheels, and at both community and school libraries. She served on mission trips both with church groups and alone to share her talents of sewing, cooking, and library knowledge. These trips took her from Jamaica to Kentucky to Alaska, which she especially loved, spending a total of 25 weeks over four trips, mostly in Sitka. Another volunteer highlight was representing the Michigan United Methodist Women at the United Nations in New York for the International Year of the Child in 1979.

Bernona is survived by her children Grant (Lynn) Fry and Jennifer Fry and daughter-in-law Mary (Mark) Walters; grandchildren Brandon (Brianna) Fry, Drew (Ginnie) Schneider, Lauren (Todor) Fry-Tzourova, and Morgan Fry; and great-grandchildren Cora Fry and Poppy Schneider, as well as her cousin Arthur Sanders, whom she considered a brother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Otis, and son, Clark, in addition to her multiple siblings and cousins.

A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, August 3, 2024, at Troy First United Methodist Church (6363 Livernois Road, Troy, Mich.). There will be a visitation/gathering time at noon with the service at 1 p.m. Following the service, there will be an ice cream sundae celebration, per Bernona's request. She will be interred at Big Prairie Township Cemetery in White Cloud alongside Otis at a later date.

Bernona always believed in the difference access to books and other resources could make in people's lives. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider donating to the White Cloud Community Library. Donations made to the library fund through the Fremont Area Community Foundation will be matched.