pWatertown- The funeral for Arlene R. Berkman will be 3 pm Saturday, April 2nd, at the Reed & Benoit Funeral Home with Rev. Leon “Toby” Schilling officiating. Calling hours are Saturday from 1:30 pm until the time of the service. Burial will be later in the spring in Three Mile Bay Cemetery. /ppMrs. Berkman, 92, of North Hamilton St., passed away Tuesday March 29th at the Samaritan Keep Home where she had been a resident for the past year./ppShe is survived by her husband of 49 years, Malcolm E., Watertown; a daughter Amy (Peter) Schwerzmann, Watertown; a son Charles V. (Lucy) Berkman, Depew, NY; a step-daughter Lee (Bruce) Rolfe, Adams Center; two step sons Patrick (Wanda) Berkman, Tulsa, OK and Michael (Barbara) Berkman, Watertown; 3 grandchildren and one due any day now, 7 step grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, 13 step great grandchildren; a brother George (Jan) Van Ostrand, London, Ontario, Canada; several nieces and nephews. Arlene was predeceased by a son Bruce J. Shearman, a sister Vivian and her mother and father./ppArlene was born February 29, 1924 in Watertown, a daughter to Charles and Florence Ward Van Ostrand. She is one of two Leap Year babies born in 1924. She loved to give her leap year age. At her death, she was the oldest leap year baby who was born and raised in Watertown, celebrating her 23rd birthday this year. Arlene graduated from Watertown High School in the Class of 1941. She attended Rider College in Trenton, NJ and was a member of the Eta Upsilon Gamma Sorority./ppArlene worked at Pine Camp during WW II as an airplane spotter and was a USO gal. She worked for the Watertown Daily Times as a proof reader and linotype operator retiring in 1987 after 45 years of service. /ppArlene married Robert B. Shearman May of 1948. That marriage ended in divorce. She married Malcolm E. Berkman August 13, 1966./ppArlene was a lifelong member of Hope Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed helping others, especially her family, friends and her church. She delivered Meals on Wheels, participated in the YMCA Senior program with lifelong friends and sang in the church choir. Arlene loved to travel./ppMemorial contributions may be made to Hope Presbyterian Church, Meals on Wheels, The Urban Mission, the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of your choice./ppCondolences may be made at www.reedbenoit.com./p
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