Winona Bernetta Brigode

Winona Rogers Brigode 12/15/1923-1/19/2024

Winona Bernetta (Rogers) Brigode was born in Reading, Oh, on Dec 15, 1923 to Pearl B. and Alice R (Brown) Rogers, who preceded her in death.

‘Nonie’ suffered through malaria and scarlet fever as a child, experiencing several summers of jaundice afterwards. At that early time, it could be seen she was small, but mighty. In those days, school years were divided into 6 grading periods. If a student was carrying an ‘A’ in a subject, he/she did not have to take the end-of-period test. Nonie seldom had to take that test in any subject. Even as a youngster, her faith was obvious as she would walk down the street to attend church, often by herself. In high school Nonie participated in athletics such as cheer and basketball. She also loved to roller skate, dance, and play tennis. After graduating from Reading High School, she met Richard, a young man with very blue eyes, who became her husband in 1942. At that time, Nonie was working for the draft board and actually had to process Dick’’s draft notice. Richard and Winona had a son and a daughter prior to moving to St. Marys, OH. Within a year or so, their second daughter was born. In the mid 1950’s, Nonie started teaching kindergarten privately in their home. After a few years, this grade level was incorporated into the public school curriculum. However, without a degree, she could not continue to teach. Always wanting to help, she served as a Cub Scout Leader, Girl Scout Leader, and a Gray Lady volunteer at the hospital, even while maintaining full or part time jobs as a typist. In the mid 1960’s the Brigode family moved to Lima, OH., as Dick had been making the commute to his job at Union 76 for a few years. In their later years, Dick and Nonie golfed quite a bit. Nonie scored a ‘hole-in-one’ a few years before Dick did, though he had been golfing many years longer than she had. At aqe 4, Nonie planted her first seeds and her love of gardening was born. She was a Master Gardener, and garnered many awards for specimen plants and her favorite, arranging flowers. Her pride and joy in the yard was a mist box that Dick built for her. It was not uncommon to find pans of dirt in her oven being ‘sterilized’. Nonie made a great tart cherry pie, vitulas, (french meatball) and the best homemade breaded veal ever! At age 90, after Dick’s passing,, she moved to the Masonic Home in Springfield, getting involved in new friendships, playing cards, & learning Tai Chi. She still maintained her mile-a-day walk through the many hallways. However, in 2022 she suffered a broken hip. Already legally deaf and beginning memory decline, she moved to the Pathways extension on the Masonic Campus where she passed away a year and half later. 

Her greatest achievement was being mother to three, Richard, Judith, and Sheryl. From them she was rewarded with eight grandchildren, and twenty-one great grandchildren. Winona definitely packed her 100 years with a great deal of living.

She is survived by her son, Richard (Christine), Sunbury, OH, daughters Judith (Jim) Liette, Tipp City, OH, and Sheryl, Norwalk, OH; grandchildren Jimmy Liette, Columbia, TN, Dr. Tim (Diane) Liette, Liberty Township, OH, Kathi (Nick) Stute, Springfield, OH, Lauralee (Bill) Jingo, Westerville, OH, Christopher (Leah) Long, Willard, OH, Jen (Matt) Ripke, Edon, OH, and Corynne (Zach) Schafer, Monroeville, OH. She is also survived by 21 great grandchildren, Nichole (Charles) Deitschmann; Rachel and Molly Stute; Taylor and Abbi Liette; Joseph and Jacob Liette; Tyler, Dillon, and Caley Brigode; Caleb, Carter, and Elliot Jingo; Braylon Long; Gannon, Genna, and Grace Ripke; and Kenley, Raegan, Kiptyn, and Rhett Schafer. 

Winona was also preceded in death by her husband, Richard (Dick) in 2010, all 8 of her siblings, Walter Rogers, Vernon Rogers, Roy Rogers, Ruth Harris, Florence Rieck, Herbert Rogers, a sister and a brother only days old, and a grandson, Christopher Richard Brigode in 2015.

A private celebration of life will be held at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home on April 7, 2024, from 2-4. 

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.