Jeanne Appleby Berner, 88, of Hollywood, MD went to be with the Lord on Monday morning, April 20, 2009 at St. Mary's Nursing Center in Leonardtown, MD after a lengthy illness.

Jeanne was born on September 15, 1920 in Philadelphia, PA, the only child of George and Elizabeth Appleby and lived in the Bywood area for several years. During the depression she and her parents moved to Masonville, NJ and later to Moorestown, NJ. She attended Moorestown High School, and upon graduation went to secretarial school.

Her years as a secretary always brought back fond memories. From 1939 to 1941 she worked at the Park-In, Drive-In Theaters in Camden, NJ. During the war years she worked for the New York Shipbuilding Corp. in Gloucester, NJ. From 1946 to 1952 Jeanne worked for the Micronizer Processing Corp./Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company as secretary to the plant manager. From 1952 to 1954 she worked for A.C.S. Home Builders, Inc. in Moorestown. Probably her favorite job was working as a secretary to the principal at Moorestown High School from 1954 to 1957. She loved her co-workers and the students and fondly called them "her kids". She also briefly worked at Lenape High School while it was under construction. After her marriage, she worked for Gaskill Construction Company. In the 1970's she worked part time at Moorestown Middle School as an aide in the special education division.

In 1956 she married Herbert C. Berner whom she had admired since she was a young girl and settled in Moorestown where they had one daughter. In 1980 they moved to Laurel, DE. Several years after her husband passed away, she moved to Hollywood, MD to live with her only child, Susan Berner Morrison, Susan's husband Andrew Morrison, and Jeanne's granddaughters, Elizabeth and Rebecca.

Jeanne enjoyed reading, discussing current events, camping, and spending time with her family and dogs as well as being a "mentor" for elementary school children. She was the best mom a daughter could have.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert C. Berner, her parents, and one infant son, Tommy. In addition to her daughter and family, she is survived by her cousin, Jack Mears (who was like a brother) and his children, Cheryl Mears Smith and Terry Mears whom she dearly loved, as well as brother-and sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews.

As she requested, a small graveside service will be held on May 2, 2009 at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Laurel, DE.

Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Suburban Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation, 26972 Baptist Church Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659; or the Galilean Children's Home, P.O. Box 880, Liberty, KY 42539; or Samaritan's Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607-3000.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield Funeral Home.