Bernice Staisey Asmonga – Fellsburg

Bernice Staisey Asmonga

June 4, 1930 – Aug. 3, 2023
If you ever visited the Asmonga family’s home on top of the breezy hill in Fellsburg, Pa., you may recall that the kitchen door was always open. Inside that door was the welcoming Bernice Staisey Asmonga, the wife of Belle Vernon Area High School basketball and baseball coach Donald Asmonga, the mother of six active children and the good neighbor who always invited others in for a coffee, a meal, or if you were really lucky, nut roll, an amusing story or prayer. Bernice peacefully departed this Earth on Aug. 3, 2023, surrounded by family. She didn’t just leave as Bernice, but departed as beloved mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, “Big Red,” “Mrs. A,” “Teta,” “Bebo” and “Aunt Bernie.” Most of all, she departed deeply loved by the many who knew her. Widowed by her husband of 62 years in 2014, Mrs. Asmonga was born in Duquesne, Pa., in 1930, daughter of Daniel and Anna Staisey and sister to The Honorable Leonard Staisey (Emilie) and George Staisey (Donna), all of whom preceded her in death. She is survived by six children, Mary Asmonga Knapp of Battle Creek, Mich.; Cathy Asmonga Ciaccia of Uniontown; Danny Asmonga of Conway, S.C.; Emilie Asmonga Gadd (Mark) of Monongahela; Nancy Asmonga Colleton of Reston, Va.; and Donald D. Asmonga (Sandy) of Frederick, Md. She was blessed with 18 loving grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Bernice lived a full and fascinating life. She was thrilled to visit Bosnia in 2001 to meet her father’s Serbian relatives, climbed Mount Sanitas in Boulder, Colo., for her 65th birthday, and often recalled (complete with demonstrations) tap dancing lessons as a child in Duquesne alongside Gene Kelly and his sister. Known for her sense of humor, her grandchildren fondly recall their Gramby passing down coveted family recipes via her pretend cooking show. Her table was always filled with not just an abundance of incredible dishes, but laughter and countless guests. A Christian woman, she devoted many years to the Christian Mothers at St. Anne’s Church in Rostraver, listened to scripture daily and prayed for the good health and safety of her extended family and friends. Bernice also served on the Donald Asmonga Foundation board of directors, which honors her late husband. The family requests donations to the foundation in lieu of flowers so that the important work of supporting students can continue into the future. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to BURKET-TRUBY FUNERAL HOME CREMATION AND ALTERNATIVE SERVICES, INC., Oakmont.