Bernadette Mary Brown-Riggs

 Bernadette Mary (Miller) Brown-Riggs (Age 96 ½) – Bernadette passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home on November 23, 2018. She was the last surviving child of 8 children born to John and Rosa (Schumacher) Miller, Born on March 25, 1922. As a young woman, Bernadette married Ray Benjamin Brown on February 1, 1941. They later welcomed their daughter Ramona who was born on June 13, 1943. Eight years later, they began to foster many children. Bernadette continued to foster after Ray’s death in 1976 until she reached the age of 72. In all, Bernadette fostered a total of 142 children, she later married Basil Riggs in the late 1970’s. Bernadette’s favorite past time was dancing which she enjoyed every week at the North Star Senior Center. She was a longtime member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Spokane. Bernadette is preceded in death by her parents, John and Rosa; seven siblings, Aloysius Miller, Magdalene (Miller) Hoskins, Eleanor (Miller) Warren, Raymond Miller, Martha Miller, Frances (Miller) Robinson, and John Miller. Her husbands; Ray B. Brown and Basil Riggs; her grandson, David Garrett Jones (8 ½ yrs. old); her step granddaughter, Sandy Sue (Jones) Knapp; and foster daughter, Pat Rejeniak. Bernadette is survived by her daughter, Ramona Bernadette (Brown) Jones of Bakersfield, CA; her grandson, Dennis Ray Jones of Killeen, TX; and great granddaughter, Brittany Jones. She is also survived by many of her foster children, especially Tanya Lockwood of Lake Oswego, OR, Patty Meyers of El Cajon, CA, Elaine Imler of Great Bend, KS and Mary Anne Fortier of Santee, CA who all remained very close to her until her death. Services will be held on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1104 W. Heroy, Spokane, WA. Beginning with a Rosary at 10:30 a.m., Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m., Reception in the Parish Hall at Noon and an interment at 2:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery Chapel.