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Bernice Irene Mendes passed away peacefully on October 27, 2016 after a short term illness. She was born to Adelino and Elizabeth Vieira in Honolulu on January 11, 1924. She was raised on the corner of 5th and Kaimuki avenues and often walked to the Natatorium to go swimming. She is a 1942 graduate of Roosevelt High School. When Pearl Harbor was bombed during her senior year she went to work at the naval base where they needed secretarial support. She often spoke of her memories of the war years and dances at the American Legion Hall. She met her husband, Melvin Mendes, at a party at Dreier Manor, the old St. Louis Club House, and they were married in 1948. They provided a caring home and quality education to their daughter and a son. Bernice worked at the Richards Street YWCA registration desk for 19 years. After Melvin passed away in 1986 she enjoyed her independence, spending time going out to lunch with her friends, going to the movies, reading romance novels and watching game shows to "keep my mind sharp". She moved to California in 2012 to be near her daughter and family. She made many new friends at the Montecito Senior Community where she participated regularly in game activities, played cards and looked forward to the variety of weekly entertainment programs. However, she always missed Hawaii. It made her glad to know that she would return home to be interred with her husband overlooking Diamond Head at the National Cemetery of the Pacific. She was preceded in death by her son, Rodney Mendes. She is survived by daughter Melvia Chang (Ronald), and grandchildren Melissa Chang, Brionna Chang Sinkay (Jimmy), Stephanie Mendes and Christopher Mendes and nieces and nephews.
Bernice Irene Mendes passed away peacefully on October 27, 2016 after a short term illness. She was born to Adelino and Elizabeth Vieira in Honolulu on January 11, 1924. She was raised on the corner of 5th and Kaimuki avenues and often walked to the Natatorium to go swimming. She is a 1942 graduate of Roosevelt High School. When Pearl Harbor was bombed during her senior year she went to work at the naval base where they needed secretarial support. She often spoke of her memories of the war years and dances at the American Legion Hall. She met her husband, Melvin Mendes, at a party at Dreier Manor, the old St. Louis Club House, and they were married in 1948. They provided a caring home and quality education to their daughter and a son. Bernice worked at the Richards Street YWCA registration desk for 19 years. After Melvin passed away in 1986 she enjoyed her independence, spending time going out to lunch with her friends, going to the movies, reading romance novels and watching game shows to "keep my mind sharp". She moved to California in 2012 to be near her daughter and family. She made many new friends at the Montecito Senior Community where she participated regularly in game activities, played cards and looked forward to the variety of weekly entertainment programs. However, she always missed Hawaii. It made her glad to know that she would return home to be interred with her husband overlooking Diamond Head at the National Cemetery of the Pacific. She was preceded in death by her son, Rodney Mendes. She is survived by daughter Melvia Chang (Ronald), and grandchildren Melissa Chang, Brionna Chang Sinkay (Jimmy), Stephanie Mendes and Christopher Mendes and nieces and nephews.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
