Obituary of E.Bernice Eppler

E. Bernice (Tiger) Eppler, 92, lifetime local area resident, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2017, at Fellowship Village, Basking Ridge, with family and friends by her side. Born Oct 19, 1924, in Summit, NJ, she was married to Jim Eppler for 42 years prior to his death in 1996. Parents Vernon and Elsie (Marshall) Tiger, and sister Doris Studer preceded her in death. She grew up in Gladstone, NJ, graduated from Bernards High School in Bernardsville, graduated from Endicott Junior College and later Beaver College where she graduated with a degree in social work. After college, she returned home to Gladstone and worked in the family business, Ellis Tiger Co., until her marriage to Jim Eppler in 1954. She resided on the family farm in Mendham Twp, where she raised their four children, for most of their marriage before moving to Pottersville. She moved to Fellowship Village in 1997. She was a member of Peapack Reformed Church and previously Hilltop Presbyterian Church where she was a Deacon and active member of the Women’s Fellowship. She was also a VNA board member and for many years volunteered at their bi-annual rummage sale. She was a homemaker and wonderful mother and grandmother. She truly loved life and spending time with family was a priority. She enjoyed entertaining, gardening, traveling with her dearly loved friends and family and playing bridge regularly with her longtime friends. She had a sweet personality and was genuinely loved by all who knew her. For many years, she proudly managed her renovated rental properties in Gladstone. The barns and apartments were located on the original Tiger family homestead. She is survived by her son Christopher J. Eppler and his wife Celeste, of Salt Lake City, UT; and daughters Andrea J. Ellmann and her husband Bruce, of Chester, NJ; Ellen E. Mahoney of Augusta, GA; Elizabeth E. Sheldon and her husband Robert, of Pennsburg, PA and eight grandchildren, Dane A. Eppler, Erin Eppler, Connor J. Mahoney, Bailey T. Mahoney, Alyssa E. McAneny, Kayla J. Ellmann, Bradley J. Ellmann, and William S. Sheldon. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to express their condolences are encouraged to make a donation to the VNA of Somerset Hills Hospice, 200 Mt. Airy Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07869 or a charity of their choice. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at The Peapack Reformed Church, 224 Main St., Gladstone, NJ. Family and friends are invited to a visitation beginning at 10am. The service will begin at 11am. Arrangements by the Bailey Funeral Home www.baileyfuneral.com