Funeral Service for Shawnda Arlene Bernard, 34 of Sisseton, SD will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 1:00 P.M. at the Ascension Presbyterian Church, Big Coulee with Gerald Heminger Jr. CRE and Filmore Simon officiating. Pianist will be Billy Kohl.  Drum Group will be Noisy Bear. Pall Bearers will be Sherece Jones, Lee Bernard Jr., Raelana Bernard, Anna Wanna, Jahna Bernard, Peyton Bernard and Miya Jones.   Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Shawnda Friends, Whitney DuMarce, Tory LaFromboise, Tashina Blue, and MJ. .  There will be an all night Wake Service on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 700 P.M. at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Community Center, Agency Village.  Dinner will be served at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, at the SWOTCC, before moving to Ascension Presbyterian Church at 12:30 P.M. Burial will be in the Ascension Presbyterian Cemetery, Big Coulee.  The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Shawnda was born on April 4, 1989 in Sisseton, SD to Margaret Roy of Sisseton, SD and Lee Bernard Sr. of Pickerel Lake, SD.  Shawnda grew up mainly in the Sisseton area but lived in various places. She went to school at Tiospa Zina and her high school years in Aberdeen, SD.  When her schooling had finished she was employed at Dakota Magic Casino, housekeeping in Sioux Falls, SD Aberdeen SD and also in Davenport, Iowa.  She enjoyed volleyball, was a cheerleader for TZ, she loved listening to music, social media, joking, laughing, being with friends and family, walks and going to the lake.  But most of all she loved her time with her daughter.   She had a good sense of humor.

Shawnda is survived by her daughter, Serenity Bernard of Sisseton, SD; her mother Margaret Roy of Sisseton, SD; one brother, Lee Bernard, Jr. (Arlana Bernard) of Sioux Falls, SD; two sisters, Tasha L. Bernard of Sisseton, SD and Raelana Bernard of Groton, SD;  special aunts Amelia Starker (Roy)  of Sisseton, SD, Gwendolyn Roy of Davenport, Iowa, and Lisa Bernard of Pickerel Lake, SD; grandmother, Edwina Bernard of Pickerel Lake, SD; special uncle Joseph L. Roy III, Sherece L. Jones Niece/Sister of West Chicago, Il.

Shawnda was preceded in death by her father, Lee Bernard Sr.; one sister Leilani Bernard; maternal grandparents Joseph P. Roy Jr. and Doris A. Roy; paternal grandfather Orson K. Bernard; uncles Marcus Roy, Robin Roy, Lester Bernard and special uncle Aaron L. Dover; auntie Gail L. Roy.