Bernice H Rise

May 16, 1926 - March 2, 2016

Bernice Helen Rise (nee Wagner), 89 of Monmouth Beach died peacefully on March 2nd at her home. Born on May 16, 1926 in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, Mifflin County, she was the daughter of the late Helen and George Wagner. She had survived her ten siblings. The Wagner family moved to Long Branch during the depression when the silk mill in which their father work was relocated to New Jersey. Bernice attended elementary and high school in Long Branch, where she met and later married the late John J. Rise, Jr. during World War II. They raised their family in Long Branch for many years, where Bernice was active in the Star of the Sea and Gregory School PTAs. In 1964, the family relocated to Monmouth Beach, where she continued her PTA work with the Monmouth Beach School. Bernice was a communicant of the Church of the Precious Blood and a past member of the Sandpipers senior citizens organization. She formerly worked at Monmouth Park Race Track, served as vice-president of John J. Rise Plumbing and Heating, and most recently, was employed as a long-time concierge at the Admiralty Condominiums in Monmouth Beach, where she worked full-time until the age of 84. She is survived by her son, John J. Rise, III and his wife Barbara; her son, Thomas Rise, and his wife Patricia; her daughter, Kim Somerville, and her husband, Thomas; Her daughter Dawn Rise Graham, and her husband, Gregory. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Family and friends are welcome to attend the rite of committal celebration on Saturday, May 21st at 10 AM at the Woodbine Mausoleum in Oceanport. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Monmouth Beach EMS. Hoffman Funeral Home, Long Branch was entrusted with arrangements.