Bernice J. (Joy) Heinbokel, 87
Well-known as the "May Basket Lady"

ASHBURNHAM - Bernice J. "Miss Bickie" (Joy) Heinbokel, 87, of Ashburnham, died Saturday, May 16, 2008, at HealthAlliance Hospital/Leominster, with her family at her bedside.

Bernice was born in Ashburnham on June 6, 1920, the daughter of Gardner Burbank and Bernice L. (Samson) Joy and lived in Ashburnham most of her life. She graduated from Old #10, a one-room schoolhouse at the foot of Harris Road in Ashburnham, and graduated from Cushing Academy in 1938. She also attended business and art classes at the high school in Bayonne, N.J.

During World War II, she worked at the Western Electric Corp. in Kearny, N.J. as a supervisor of assembly of, at the time, a highly secretive newly invented anti-submarine device known as sonar. She received several commendations from the U.S. Navy Depot for her ability.

Along with helping her husband in the Ashburnham Bottled Gas business, Bernice established and ran several businesses in Ashburnham: a consignment store and a crafts store. She was known in the Fitchburg, Gardner area as the "May Basket Lady." For the past 30 years, she has manufactured the crepe paper baskets in her home.

She was a member of the Assembly of God Church of Fitchburg for 40 years, a Sunday school teacher, and a member of the church board. She was then a member of the Bread of Life Assembly of God Church in Westminster. She was a member of the Church Prayer Chain and was a church counselor.

Bernice leaves her husband of 65 years, Robert J. Heinbokel, they were married Feb. 6, 1943; her daughters, Joy Leavenworth-Gould and her husband, Leo, of Gilford, N.H. and Robin Quinn of Ashburnham; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her brothers, Gardner Burbank Joy, Francis Joy; and her sisters, Louise Boulanger and Margaret Spacek all died before her.

A celebration of her life will be held at a day and time to be announced. Please omit flowers. Contributions may be made in her memory to the Christian Life Center, 53 Main St., Leominster, MA 01453 or to the Bread of Life Assembly of God Church, 28 State Road, East Westminster, MA 01473. Bosk Funeral Home of Fitchburg assisted the family.