Juanita Berck, a couturire to Pensacola brides and fashionistas for four decades, passed on January 10th at the Joyce Goldenberg Hospice Inpatient Residence after a short illness. She was 89. Ms. Berck worked with Pensacola fashion doyen Sarah Brown for more than 20 years, creating custom alterations to everything from designer bridal gowns to elaborate Mardi Gras costumes. Prior to teaming with Ms. Brown, she was a business partner with Mary Dixon Quina in the Heirloom Shop, a Pensacola institution for English smocking and French hand sewing. Ms. Brown called Ms. Berck "one of the most accomplished artists with a needle and thread I have ever known." Ms. Berck was working on a wedding gown for Ms. Brown two days before her death. Ms. Price said Ms. Berck "possessed the skills of an old world master, particularly in designing Christening and First Communion dresses." Her intricately smocked children's clothing has acquired heirlooms status in many Pensacola families. "Her clothing has become the memories of many Pensacola families, both old and new," Ms. Quina said. "And will be for generations." Services for Ms. Berck will be held Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. followed by a graveside service at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will host a reception following the services at the Pensacola Yacht Club where Ms. Berck was a member for many years. Instead of flowers, the family requests her friends make a donation to American Heart Association or a charity of their choice. Ms. Berck is survived by her daughter Margaret Berck; grandchildren, Georgia Berck Hamilton of St. Augustine, FL and Gregory Harmon of San Clemente, CA; and great grandchildren Marcus and Amelia Hamilton of St. Augustine. She was preceded in death by her husband, USMC Capt. Henry Anton Berck; son, Gregory Berck; father, Casper Sauer; and mother, Kathleen Devine Sauer. Ms. Berck first came to Pensacola in 1948 where her husband was teaching at the NAS flight school. She moved back to Pensacola 1953 after the death of Capt. Berck in a training accident in California. After a short return to her hometown in Geneva, IL, she moved permanently to Pensacola in 1956. Like many widows of Navy aviators, she made Pensacola her home after her husband's death because of the community's support network for military families. Ms. Berck was born on Feb. 11, 1924 in Sterling, IL. She graduated from Geneva High School, Geneva, IL in 1942. She marred the dashing then 2nd Lt. Berck when she was 20 in 1944 after a whirlwind courtship. They had two children: Margaret who went on to become an attorney and Gregory who died tragically in a motorcycle accident shortly after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ms. Berck also was a great traveler in her later years, regaling friends and family about her trips to Morocco, Turkey, China, Russia, Egypt, London, France, Ireland, Mexico and the British Virgin Islands.