Margaret R. Bernicky

Margaret Ruth (Martie) Bernicky. Born February 5, 1941 date of death December 15, 2025

Resident of Old Town, Florida for 23 years and spent her last year in Maricopa, AZ with her son Rod and wife Bernadette.

Born in Mishawaka, IN and a resident there until 1968 at which time she moved to South Bend, IN and lived there for 28 years.  Martie was born on Feb. 5, 1941 to Francis W. Geist and Mary Mazurkiewicz Geist.

Martie was married to Donald L Bendit in 1962 and bore their son, Rodney Alan Bendit. Her and Donald divorced in 1967.

She opened the Marquis Styling Salon in 1961 and retired in 2000.

Martie married Jim Bernicky on April 15, 1968 and they were married 43 years until his death on Feb. 14, 2012. She worked for Jim’s business painting, papering and doing misc. construction until they retired and moved to Florida in 2000.

She also owned the Marquis Art and Statuary Gallery from 1974 until they retired.

Martie’s passion was her husband, children and grandchildren. She loved family and family get together’s. She pursued her art and worked in oil medium for many years selling in excess of 400 paintings.  In 1998 she discovered the computer and loved it because it kept her in contact with family and friends.  She also loved to knit, crochet and do crafts.

Once in Florida, Martie and Jim built a new home themselves and enjoyed floral and vegetable gardening, yard work and their great friends.  They both loved the area, the great people and the local auctions.

She is survived by her son Rodney Alan Bendit and wife Bernadette Fitts Bendit, son Keith Bernicky and his wife Nancy. 14 grandchildren – KP Bernicky and wife Mindy, Damien Bernicky, Jessie Bernicky, Braxton and Ashlyn Neely, Lexy Bendit, Anne, Isiah, Robert Prange and Cody Fitts and his wife Kelsey. Great grandchildren Austin, Marcus, Kyrstin and Jaden Bernicky, Kingsly Borollo and Oliver and MacKenzie Fitts.

Martie was preceded in death by her grandson Adam Bernicky and Cal Prange Jr.

A celebration of life for Rod and Martie will be held from 1pm-3pm on Saturday April 25, 2026, at the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St. South Bend.  A prayer will end the celebration of life and internment of Martie will follow at Ferrisville Cemetery, Mishawaka.

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