ILION - Bernice "Bea" E. (Sweeney) Wright, age 94, of 152 Second St., Ilion, passed away on Saturday, May 28, 2011, at the home of her daughter, Christine Jones, in Ilion, after a long illness. She was born on November 28, 1916, in Schenectady, the daughter of John and Anne (King) Sweeney and graduated from Ilion High School. On October 26, 1938, she was married to Richard "Dick" L. Wright in Ilion. He died on March 7, 1977. Bernice was employed at the Ilion Hospital and later the Mohawk Valley General Hospital in the x-ray and lab departments and was an EEG and EKG Technician and Nurse's Aide. She was a member of the Church of the Annunciation, Altar Rosary Society and was one of the first Eucharistic Ministers. Bernice was Past Regent and Financial Secretary of the Court St. Bridget #265 Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Mrs. Wright was also Past President of the Council of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus Auxiliary and Mohawk Valley General Hospital Guild and its Candy and Gift Chairman. Bernice was a member, Past Treasurer and Publicity Chairman of the Ilion Women of the Moose and a recipient of the Academy of Friendship. She was a member of the executive board at Catholic Charities of Herkimer County and was its food pantry coordinator. Bernice was Past 1st Vice President of the Ilion American Legion Auxiliary and a member of the Ilion VFW Auxiliary, Friends of the Library, AARP and Mohawk Valley Business Women's Club. Bernice was also a Past Vice President of the Mother's Club of the Annunciation School and a Girl Scout leader. She was in the first Nurse's Aide class and was one of the first school crossing guards in Ilion. Bernice enjoyed cooking and baking, craft works, sewing, knitting, crocheting and especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a very giving person and would do anything for anyone. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Christine and Deacon Dennis Jones, with whom she resided in Ilion; her son and daughter-in-law, John R. and Heidi Wright, of Ilion; her grandchildren, Andrea Rupp and her husband, William, Michaela Wright-Fresco and her husband, Francis, Eric Jones and his wife, Maura Harrington, Adam Jones and his wife, Dawn, and Heather Gay; her great-grandchildren, Aidan and Ava Jones; her brother, Loren Sweeney, of Ilion; her sisters and brother-in-law, Marie Hameister, of Richfield Springs, and Kathleen and Gerald Gage, of Ilion; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her brothers, John and Robert Sweeney; her sister, Lucille Matthews; and her grandson-in-law, Wayne Gay. Funeral Services will be held 1:45 p.m., Thursday, June 2, 2011, at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Rd., Ilion, and 2:30 p.m. at the Church of the Annunciation, where a Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated by Father Anthony Barratt, Pastor, assisted by Deacon James Bower. Members of the Catholic Daughters will meet at the church at 2:15 p.m. to form an Honor Guard for Bernice. Interment will be in Armory Hill Cemetery, Ilion, next to her husband, Richard (former Ilion Fire Chief). Calling hours are Wednesday, June 1, 2011, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The Catholic Daughters Prayer Service will be held at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday. The Women of the Moose Service will be held at 6:15 p.m., Wednesday, and the Ilion-Frankfort VFW Auxiliary Service will be held at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home. The family wants to give special thanks to Mattie Garbera for her loving and attentive care and companionship to Bernice during this past year. In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to Ilion Fire Dept. or Ilion Ambulance Fund. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. The Wright family has requested that all funeral and burial arrangements be entrusted to Bernice's long time friend and family Funeral Director, Don Applegate.