Bernyce Grant

Bernyce Bauver Grant, a longtime resident of Northampton, Ma., and currently residing at Reeds Landing in Springfield, passed away on January 22nd after a brief illness. She was 94 years old.
Bernyce was born into a large family – she was the youngest of 8 children in the home of Israel Bauver and Sarah August. Her 3 oldest siblings, Goldie Kravitz, Samuel Bauver, and Barbara Rosen were already married when she arrived, while her brothers Henry, George, and Philip, were teenagers. Only brother Milton was still a child. She was also the first in her family to be born in the hospital!
In Northampton, Bernyce was also the youngest of all the August family’s first cousins. Her four uncles, who emigrated at the turn of the century from Lithuania, eventually settling in Northampton, had already produced dozens of first cousins for Bernyce. Many were a generation older, and the cousins had begun making their mark on Northampton, starting businesses including Ann August Dress Shop and later, Jack August Seafood Restaurant. Young Bernyce’s Northampton was a world of relatives who were an integral part of the thriving Jewish community in that city.
She graduated from Northampton High School, along with her best friend and cousin, Estelle August, and headed right into the world of sales at McCallum’s Department Store. If you have the faint remembrance of a beautiful, petite blonde, with perfect make-up and wearing stylish clothes, smiling at you from behind the cosmetics or perfume counter… well, that was Bernyce.
During these early years, Bernyce met a particularly cute Jewish boy from Springfield, Gerald Grant. He was also the youngest of 8 siblings, and theirs was a passion from day one. They married in 1951, and then the young couple lived with Bernyce’s parents in Northampton. The house was the hub of Bauver family activity…huge seders, holiday picnics, and almost weekly Sunday visits by her brothers and their families.
By the mid 1960’s, Bernyce moved on from department store sales when she was hired by Scharr Jewelry, a costume jewelry company that leased space inside the new wave of discount big box stores like Bradlees and Ames. She drove all over New England, setting up jewelry departments, hiring staff, tracking sales, and teaching people how to sell. She visited each site regularly, working at the low performers to increase sales. Her territory slowly increased…all the way to North Caroline.
Bernyce relished the lifestyle of this job. In a time long before GPS, she would set out early on Monday morning for a full week of travel, using written directions and lots of road maps. She loved driving her big sedan, and if she got lost, she pulled over and asked for directions. It was hard work, but it was also an adventure. Later in life, she would admit that this career would never have worked if she had children. Also, that she had a supportive husband who was proud of her accomplishments…. plus, he was a great cook!
Bernyce and Gerry were devoted to each other and loved getting dressed “to the 9’s” and going out for an evening or a trip. They were always the best-looking couple in the room! Bernyce and Gerry enjoyed traveling, including trips to Las Vegas and California, and vacations in Newport, RI with sister and brother-in-law Eunie and Murry. While they both had fulfilling careers that often kept them on the road, they were never apart for long, sharing their love and their beautifully decorated home with several generations of cats.
Retail changed by the late 70s, and Bernyce’s job ended. It took a while, but when a friend mentioned the eyewear industry needed traveling reps, she went all in. This required work - memorizing hundreds of style numbers and being able to instantly identify a frame…plus her competition were all 20 years younger. But Bernyce knew that selling optometrists the line and schmoozing office staff was something that fit her skills perfectly, and she really excelled, always hitting her numbers, and winning a few sales awards along the way. She remained in that field for over 25 years, first working for Tura, and then Luxottica. She retired at 78 - the move to home computer use for orders was one change she could not face.
In retirement, Bernyce remained active: almost daily walks with friends around Look Park and selling a variety of things at area flea markets and the UMass student center. By this time, she and Gerry had bought a beautiful ranch house in Florence, Ma., and Bernyce loved her flower gardens and ornamental shrubs. She didn’t plant them, but she sure could deadhead and weed! They also had a condo in Boca Raton. The couple really loved the ocean, but their San Remo family of “seasonal” friends was an unexpected blessing. Bernyce so enjoyed her snowbird life!
Bernyce lost her beloved husband Gerry after 61 years of marriage, and a few years later, she decided to move to Reed’s Landing. She loved her pretty little “condo” overlooking the woods, particularly the sunroom. She kept traveling, and particularly enjoyed cruising with her niece Martha; her 92nd birthday was celebrated with newfound friends on a Caribbean cruise!
Also, during her final ten years, Bernyce became close friends with Hy Robinovitz and his family. She was made welcome as part of his family and celebrated many holidays and special occasions at his home.
Bernyce was predeceased by all her siblings, and all her August first cousins. She is survived by nephews Wally Kravitz, Susan Kessler, Steven Bauver, and Martha Bauver, and many great and great-great nieces and nephews….and hundreds of August cousins.
From Gerald Grant’s family, Bernyce is survived by many nieces and nephews; Steven Kofsky, Robin Kofsky, Randall (Maxine) Bernstein, Robert Madorsky, Michael (Micheline) Madorsky, David Grant, Sandra Grant Goldstein, Shelly Grant, Sarena Kaiser Brechenser, Cookie Klavan, Kenneth Kaiser, Gary Grant, Michele Russell, Beverly (Barry) Leibowitz, Brian (Janet) Grant, Susan Grant (Henry Walz), and Martin Greenberg.
Bernyce was predeceased by her entire Grant family in-laws, Edna Madorsky, Bernie Grant, Beatrice Bernstein, Melvin Grant, Jessie Kaiser, Phil Grant and Eunice Kofsky, and by her nephew Jeffrey Grant, and nieces Judie Madorsky, Jerilyn Gold, and Carol Ann Gold.
She will be missed by many friends, including Joannie Sikorski, Phil Thurber, John Dapolito and Peggy Sheldon.


The funeral will be on Sunday January 28th, 2024, 11:00 am, at Ascher Zimmerman Funeral Home, 44 Sumner Ave, Springfield MA. Burial will follow at Sons of Israel Cemetery, 904 Wilbraham Road, Springfield MA 01109.
A Shiva service will be held at Congregation B’nai Torah, 2 Eunice Drive, Longmeadow, MA 01106, at 4:45pm following the evening services.