Bertha Barli Pichard – California, Pa.
Bertha Barli Pichard passed away on Saturday morning, Feb. 15, 2025, at Mon Valley Care Center, where she has been residing since May 2019. Bertha would have celebrated her 102nd birthday on March 19. Bertha was born in California, Pa., on March 19, 1923, to the late John and Helen Piot Barli. Bertha was the only girl among seven brothers. The family lived in Clover Hill on a farm outside Bentleyville, Pa. Bertha graduated from Bentleyville High School in 1940, and she was salutatorian of her graduating class. Bertha’s family moved back to California after their farmhouse was destroyed by a fire. She worked in California at the Pittsburgh Mercantile Store in the furniture department and then moved to the Daisytown office as a clerk. During World War II, she moved to Detroit, Mich., and worked for the New York Central Railroad at the Michigan Central Station and then moved back to California, Pa. She married Roland Pichard on Aug. 23, 1945, after he was discharged from the Army. They lived in California, where they built their house in 1949. Bertha liked to read, sew, crochet, cook, bake, follow sports and play cards. She often was the baseball scorekeeper and reporter to the newspapers for the California Pony, Colt and Legion teams. She would sew uniforms that needed fixed for the players during the season. She even substituted as Little League coach for one game when the coach did not show for the game, so the boys could play. Bertha was an active member of the WBA (Women’s Benefit Association) California Chapter, California American Legion Auxiliary and still a member of the California Presbyterian Church. She has experienced many things during her life as she grew up in her early years through the Great Depression and then the start of the World War II era. She has lived under 18 different presidents, watched as inventions changed the way things were done in the household, witnessed the increase of prices of all things, changes that took place in the travel industry and space adventures. Bertha was married to Roland for 70 years. Roland preceded her in death in May 2016. She is survived by her two sons, Terry Pichard (Benita Andrews Pichard) of California, Pa., and Barry Pichard (Darla Walker Pichard) of Palm Bay, Fla.; four grandchildren, Desiree Poach (Jeff) of Morgantown, W.Va.; Janina Pichard of California, Pa., Brent Pichard (Carrie) of Palm Bay, Fla., and Jared Pichard (Brianna) of Orlando, Fla.; nine great-grandchildren, Jeffrey Poach, Aiden Poach, Ashlynn Poach, Delaney Poach and Josephine Poach of Morgantown, W.Va., Noah Pichard, Seth Pichard and Emma Pichard of Palm Bay, Fla., and Lillyanna Pichard of Orlando, Fla. Bertha has one living brother, Roy Barli (Linda) of Dunlevy, Pa. She has many nephews and nieces living across the United States. Visitors were greeted at MARISCOTTI FUNERAL HOME INC., Anthony N. Mariscotti, supervisor, 323 Fourth St., California, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, and will be again from 10 am to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, when funeral services will begin at the funeral home with the Rev. Candance Cook officiating. Interment will be immediately after the service at Highland Cemetery in California, Pa. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to O.S.P.T.A. Hospice, 4325 Pennsylvania SR. 51 N, Belle Vernon, PA. 15012.
