BERNICE DONNELLY

BERNICE DONNELLY (May 6, 1930-July 10, 2026)
Our Mom lived almost 100 years and we’re certain that longevity was due to her fear of missing out. Her greatest joy was seeing her kids raise their kids, and watching the whole family interact regularly with obvious love for each other, siblings, cousins, aunties and uncles, across generations.
Bernice held two university degrees, a BA and BSW, and served as a social worker before marrying Les Donnelly at the age of 25 and starting a family. She returned to social work 23 years later and helped shape the policies and procedures toward opening provincial adoption records in Saskatchewan. Over the next 15 years, she assisted more than 500 people reunite with biological families.
She invested most of her pay cheques into building a family cottage on Last Mountain Lake, SK, which remains the primary gathering place for annual family reunions, large and small. She also donated countless hours to volunteer service as a member of the CWL for 78 years, and to organizations like the Marian Centre, Meals on Wheels and others in Regina.
Bernice was a devoted and loving wife and life partner to Les, and mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to a still growing family. Our childhood home was filled with love, music and daily chores, with most holidays celebrated with crafts, costumes and baking activities with all ten kids involved. The annual Christmas Cookie Icing Day remains an epic gathering, with four generations participating in December 2025. Bernice instilled in all of us a clear understanding of the difference between right and wrong and would often start the dinner conversation by asking us to tell her what we had done that day to make the world a better place. She raised ten of us, and we all turned out okay. Educators, health care professionals, artists and event planners are part of her legacy, not coincidentally some of the many roles she played as a young mother of ten kids so close in age.
Bernice and Les shared a deep Catholic faith that was the foundation of their relationship. They met in Prince Albert in early 1954, and after a 3-week courtship, decided they would marry the following year, in May 1955. Their love and commitment to each other for over 71 years set a strong example for their 10 kids and 24 grandchildren.
Bernice Donnelly (nee Rogers) was born May 6, 1930 in Regina, eldest child of Olga and Arthur Rogers. Predeceased by her parents, sister Marion, adopted brother Dick and daughter-in-law Lauren, she is survived by sisters Terry (Howard) Becker and Sheila (Marius) Claypool and foster brother Mike Heisler, and their families.
Bernice is loved and remembered every day by her husband Les and children Richard, John (Joy), Marian, Tom (Sylvie), Peter (Eri), Kevin (Sharon), Terry (Helene), Karen (Alice), Kelly (Darren) and Neil (Liza), her 24 grandchildren Brenna (Andrew), Erin, Ryan, Jordan, Terence (Jenna), Naomi (Sean), Matthew, Patric, Aimee, Jimmy (Yuka), Maya, Katie, Rachel (Kevin), Thomas, Christopher (Jordana), Nathan, Jackson, Bridget (Thano), Daniel, Mike (Kyra), Josh, Megan, Lizzie and Mae. Also survived by 9 great-grandchildren as well as Les’ remaining siblings Elaine, Tom, Pauline and Fran and the extended Donnelly clan.
Weekly Sunday suppers for 25 people; baking cinnamon buns, cookies and muffins by multiple dozens; and always having room for one more at the dinner table are only a few of the memories we will cherish of this remarkable woman. Her Celebration of Life is on August 3 at 11 am at St Martin De Porres Church, 4720 Castle Road, Regina. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Marian Centre or a charity of your choice.