BAR HARBOR – Rebecca “Becky” (Vernon) Bergstrom, 40, died Feb. 6, 2004, in Bar Harbor, after a dignified and courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer. Becky was born Aug. 22, 1963, in Harvey, Ill., the daughter of Charles and Harriet (Baade) Vernon. She attended Kich and Lowell grade schools and Thornridge High School in Harvey. Becky received her bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1985. She married David Eric Bergstrom, 40, of Watseka, Ill., on Aug. 5, 1989, and has two children, Daniel David Bergstrom, 12, and Samuel Vernon Bergstrom, 9. The family moved to Bar Harbor in 1994 to pursue employment at the Jackson Laboratory. Becky had a stellar research career as a senior professional assistant in mouse genetics. Her research studies contributed to approximately 20 research articles in several of the world’s top research journals. Becky participated in research analysis of mice aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor in December, 2001, and recently attended the International Mouse Genome Conference in Braunschweig, Germany, in November, 2003. Her talent at the Jackson Laboratory in the technique of microinjecting embryonic stem cells into developing mouse embryos was world class. Her hobbies included ballroom dancing and scrapbooking. Becky is survived by her husband, David; her sons, Daniel and Samuel; her mother, Harriet Vernon of Harvey, Ill.; two sisters, Cynthia Vernon of Crete, Ill., and Lisa Leipus of Oak Park, Ill.; and many additional in-laws, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Charles Vernon, in 1992; and her sister-in-law, Karen Bergstrom of Watseka, Ill., in 1980. Friends are invited to call 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004, at Jordan-Fernald, Bar Harbor Chapel, 48 Eden St., Bar Harbor, where funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, with the Rev. Dr. Sandra Reed officiating. Contributions in Becky’s memory may be made to the Jackson Laboratory, care of the Development Office, 610 Main St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609 or the American Cancer Society, Centralized Memorial Processing Center, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.
REBECCA ‘BECKY’ (VERNON) BERGSTROM
