Bernice Shih

Obituary of Mary Bernice Hannah Shih (Barker)

A Celebration of life for Mary Bernice Hannah Shih (Barker) will be held at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 20th St. & Spadina Crescent, Saskatoon. Details about the service will be announced at a later date.

Bernice died peacefully on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Born on June 18, 1936 to Ernest and Evelyn (Stacey) Barker in Regina, Sask., Bernice was predeceased by her mother in 1988, and by her father, in 1992, and by her older brother Ken and sister-in-law Sandra Barker. She was also predeceased by her ex-husband, Stephen Shih. She leaves to mourn two daughters, Alicia Morrish (lain) of Calgary, and Elizabeth Shih of Saskatoon, her brother Rev. Harvie (Liz) Barker of Penticton, B.C., several nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and cousins.

During the depression, life was a struggle. With her father in the Air Force, stationed on Vancouver Island in W.W.2, Bernice's mother travelled with her and her siblings between Regina and Victoria, B.C. several times. After the War, they made their home in Victoria, where Bernice had the first ten years of her schooling. She had many happy memories of those years.

When her father was transferred to Vancouver, Bernice finished her high school education there, and after graduation, did office work. However, she shortly after upgraded 1957-1960, training at the Presbyterian Missionary & Deaconess Training School (later renamed Ewart College).

After she was employed by the Women's Missionary Society (W.M.S.) of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, she began working in N.W. Ontario with Indigenous women and children on several First Nations in the surrounding area of Kenora, Ontario.

She later met and in 1963 married Stephen Shih who was teaching on Shoal Lake First Nation. A year later they moved to Saskatoon where Stephen took up a teaching position with the Saskatoon Board of Education. Bernice was subsequently employed by the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation where she enjoyed working with Special Subject Councils.In 1970 she resigned to have her first daughter, Alicia. Two years later Elizabeth was born. Bernice enjoyed being at home and watching her daughters grow, volunteering at Greystone Heights School and at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

In 1979, Bernice returned to work at the S.T.F. where she worked until she retired in 1995. As her daughters grew, Bernice also began volunteer work with many different avenues within the Presbyterian Church in Canada. She was involved in the Women's Missionary Society (W.M.S) at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Saskatoon. As well, she held offices in the Presbyterial and Synodical of the W.M.S. and spent several years on the National Council of the W.M.S.

She was ordained as an elder on St. Andrew's Session, and became the representative elder to the Presbytery of Northern Sask. and the Synod of Sask. She had the remarkable experience of being the moderator of Presbytery and later became the first lay woman to be the moderator of the Synod of Sask. She also represented the Synod of Sask. on the Elders' Institute Task Force located at U.B.C. in Vancouver.

Bernice found it difficult to retire, always finding a new challenge in the church. The most recent one was to be part of the Pastoral Care Committee at St. Andrew's. This involved taking the training offered by the Inter Church Health Ministries, Sask. to support and enhance the church's work done by its parish nurse, Laura Van Loon.

Bernice's lifelong commitment to volunteer work at St. Andrew's, and the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and as a member of the Order of Diaconal Ministers, reflected her commitment at an early age, to make her faith the focus of her life.

The family request that there be no flowers. Any Donations are gratefully received to St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund.

The Ashes will be placed by the family in St. John's Columbarium.