Jailer, Bernice P. Age: 88, Red Bank

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Bernice Ponger Jailer, of Red Bank, died on Friday, August 21. She was 88 years old. Born in Elizabeth, she graduated from Montclair State Teacher’s College (now Montclair University) and began her career as an English teacher. After graduating, Bernice, known as B to everyone, married Warren Jailer of Hackensack in 1947 and they moved to Shrewsbury, where she lived until 2014.

B taught English in the Middletown schools for four decades, first at Thompson Junior High and then at Middletown South High School. Over the years, she taught entire families how to write a coherent paragraph and mentored many younger teachers who became her closest friends. In 1987 she was recognized for Excellence in Teaching at a White House ceremony by the Presidential Scholars Program. She grudgingly retired in 1997 and volunteered for various nonprofits, including CASA, Planned Parenthood, and the ASPCA, but found the most satisfaction in fostering and raising rescued Golden Retrievers.

She was predeceased by her husband, Warren, in 1996; and her daughter, Laura Jansen, in 2008. She is survived by her daughter, Judith Bluysen of Paris, France; her son, Todd Jailer of Berkeley, Calif.; three grandaughters; three great-grandchildren; and many friends, ex-colleagues, and students.

No services are planned and donations in her memory can be made to the SPCA of Monmouth County.