Obituary of Berta Bianca Rina (Crescioli) Grimes

Berta Bianca Rina (Crescioli) Grimes passed on Sunday, October 20, 2019, at St Luke’s Hospital, Duluth. Berta was born March 31, 1924 in the beautiful renaissance city of Florence Italy, the second daughter of Isolina and Faustino Crescioli. Her early years were marked by three indelible events; the Great Depression, the rise of Fascism, and the catastrophe of World War II. The Fascists, in fact, converted the apartment complex next to her house into an interrogation prison. Prisoners found that they could drop notes into her small courtyard where Berta, at great risk, would pick them up and deliver news to families. One prisoner scheduled for execution the next day was saved by her brave action. After the war that prisoner wrote a book about this experience and other war stories and dedicated it in part to Berta.

After the Nazis were driven out of Florence a local partisan leader wanted to honor Allied soldiers who supported their efforts. The three British soldiers who were asked to attend mentioned that another America GI deserved to be recognized. His three daughters then had to find a fourth girl, to match this fourth soldier. That girl was Berta and of course the US soldier was Tom Grimes. A fairytale start to what would become a 50 year marriage.

She arrived in this country in 1946 and once here in her new home was challenged to learn English, eat American processed food, drive in blizzard conditions, and survive Minnesota mosquitoes. She accomplished all four. Then with two young children she accepted a night position at St Mary’s hospital and would remain for more than 25 years. In 1959 she made her first trip back to Florence with her young children in tow to spend a summer with her parents in the home of her youth. In the years that followed she made many trips back. Finally, in 2005, she made her last journey back to Florence and fittingly was again accompanied by her now grown children. Her heart never completely left Italy.

After retirement she and Tom traveled the warmer climates of the country staying winters in many locations. At home she enjoyed the many gatherings of friends and family. She loved cards of all types, especially bridge. At the age of 80 she bought her first computer, completed a community ed. class, and put her new skills to work playing penny poker online. She was a long time Docent at the Duluth Zoo and was honored as the Docent of the Year in 1998. She volunteered at local Nursing homes, kitchens and gave too generously to countless charities and the Catholic Church.

Berta lived her life with a deep but quiet faith. She genuinely had joy and optimism in her heart and a great love of life that was infectious. If you had her as a friend you knew you could find no better. As a mother, grandmother and great grandmother she had no bounds for her love. She had a great spirit and now the light of this life has gone out. Her family finds some solace in our belief that now the heaven’s winds will take her gentle soul and it will be a better place when she arrives.

She was preceded in passing by her parents, a sister Lilia, two infant children Mary and Jacqueline, and her husband Tom. Survived by children Dick (Eileen), Kathy (Tim) Perala, grandson John (Danielle), step-grandchildren Deana Collins (Sean Locken), and Shawn (Eric) Baker , and four great grandchildren, Leo and Olivia Grimes – Breanne and Kayla Baker.

Arrangements by Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4100 Grand Ave, for a private burial service at a later date in Riverside Cemetery, Barnum.

Many people contributed to her care in her final years but the family cannot find a way to thank Dr Timothy Kleinschmidt enough for his exceptional commitment to her well being.