Bernadette Marie Hickman

PLOVER, Wis. - Bernadette Marie Hickman, 90, formerly of Mercer died Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, in Plover.

She was born on June 12, 1924, in Rudolph the daughter of John and Theresa (Kinlein) Zimmerman.

After the family moved to Stevens Point, she attended St. Joseph's Catholic School and graduated from P.J. Jacobs High School in 1943. Following her graduation, she was employed at Badger Ordinance Works outside of Baraboo where she helped to make rockets and ammunition in support of the U.S. war effort.

She married Kenneth Hickman on Nov. 16, 1946, at St. Raphael's Cathedral in Madison. During their 39 years together, Bernie and Ken ran various businesses, including Hickman's Hamburger Heaven Drive-in (Madison), the Atwood Street Dry Cleaners (Madison), the Wisconsin House of Cheese (Phoenix) and Nature's World Motel (Mercer). For over 20 years, Bernie served as Ken's personal secretary while he sold wholesale foods in Lincoln, Neb., Milwaukee and later northern Wisconsin. They raised three sons together. Ken died in 1985.

On September 9, 1989, Bernie married Steve Caravello. Bernie and Steve spent much of their time traveling and visiting family and friends in Wisconsin and Sacramento, Calif. Steve died in 2002. In 2007, Bernie returned to Stevens Point, living in various retirement and assisted living facilities in the area until her death.

Bernie was an active member of the Catholic Church wherever she lived, including St. Isaac Jogues (Mercer) and St. Joseph (Stevens Point). She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Mercer. She enjoyed working on various craft projects and volunteering at places like St. Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point.

She is survived by three sons, Dennis (Klara) Hickman, Salinas, Calif., Michael (Janet) Hickman, Rochester, Minn., and Patrick (Linda) Hickman, Washburn; three stepchildren, Diane (Lee) Larsen, Verona, Joe Caravello, Los Angeles, and Michael (Tammy) Caravello, Sun Prairie; a brother and two sisters, Gregory (Henrietta) Zimmerman, Rita Binder and Kathy (Conrad) Kraft, all of Stevens Point; 18 grandchildren, Katie Thompson, Marilyn (CJ) Starkenberg, William (Joelle) Fiedorowicz, Jessica (Paul) Colucci, Lisa (Jordan) Dameral, Matthew, James, Olivia, Carol, Jonathan, Charlie, Paval, and Tomas Hickman, Carrie, Kristina, and Steven Larsen, and Taylor and Jenna Caravello; four great-grandchildren, Lily Thompson, Jackson Gooding, and Joe and Ava Colucci; and many other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Eleanor and William Cleveland, her brother-in-law, Joseph Binder, her stepdaughter-in-law, Patti Caravello, and two nephews, Jeffrey Zimmerman and Robert Cleveland.

A visitation ending with a recitation of the Rosary will be held on Friday, Sept. 26, 2014, from 5-7 p.m. at Boston Funeral Home, 1649 Briggs Street, Stevens Point.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1709 Wyatt Ave, Stevens Point. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass at 10:30 a.m. The Rite of Committal and interment will follow at Guardian Angel Cemetery, Stevens Point.

Online condolences can be made at bostonfuneralhome.net

The family wishes to thank the staff of CCLS Bridlewood 1, Plover, for the care and compassion they showed to Bernie during the last six months.