Rebecca Herner Obituary

Rebecca J. Herner

Rebecca J. "Becky" Herner, 62, of Bellevue, passed away Friday, May 19, 2023, after a long battle with end-stage COPD.

She was born Aug. 13, 1960, in Norwalk, to Sarah Stradtman and John Herner.

Becky graduated from Trotwood-Madison High School. She then attended Wright State University for her Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Urban Studies with a minor in Criminal Justice and Public Administration. After obtaining her B.A., she attended University of Cincinnati College of Law for her Juris Doctor (JD). Becky had an active career in fighting for the "underdog" as an attorney. She started as an Assistant Public Defender in 1987 at Seneca County Public Defenders Office and subsequently became Director of the Seneca Co. Public Defender's Office. Later, she accepted a position as an Assistant State Public Defender, running the State's Public Defense County Outreach Program and served as legislative liaison to the Ohio legislature. Notably, she was appointed by Ohio Supreme Court to serve on Ohio Sentencing Commission. As her career progressed, she was an Adjunct Professor at Tiffin University and Associate Professor at Bowling Green State University. She also served as President of Seneca County Bar Association and President of Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.

A few years after she brought her career back to Seneca County, she accepted the position of Director of CASA in Seneca, Sandusky, and Wyandot counties. She often described her position at CASA as her "dream job." She was known throughout her law career and her life to fight tooth-and-nail for what she believed in.

In 1993, she married Michael "Mike" Hall at Zion Lutheran Church in Republic and immediately took on his two teen children as her own. They regard her as their "bonus mom." Years later, Mike and Becky had two children of their own. Despite only having four "legal" children, Becky was a strong maternal figure to many throughout her life. In her final weeks, many individuals reached out to her and described her as a second mother who loved them just as unconditionally as any other mother.

Becky enjoyed listening to and playing music, debating politics, gardening, and spending time with her kitties. She felt blessed to be the face of the CDC's Tips From Former Smokers Campaign. Her favorite campaign video can be found online. She encouraged anyone who was interested in quitting smoking to try the strategy that worked for her and said, "Whenever I had a craving, I said to myself, 'I choose not to smoke today. Maybe I'll have one tomorrow, but today, I choose to not smoke.' Each day I continued telling myself that until I no longer had to."

Becky is survived by her life partner, Mike; children, Bobbie and Nick Hall; "bonus children," April (JD) Green and Melanie (Jeremy) Yates; brother, Joe (Terri) Herner; beloved sisters-in-law, Robbie Herner and Tonya (Mike) Miller; stepmother, Suzanne Herner; stepsiblings, Greg Williams, Renee Reynolds, and Christopher Ryan; forever best friend, Suzie Solomon; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends that loved her so dearly.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Herner; mother, Sarah Stradtman; and brother, Alan Herner.

Visitation will be 2-4 p.m. Saturday, July 15, 2023, at Herman-Karlovetz Funeral Home & Crematory, 900 North St., Fremont, Ohio, 43420. Becky's memorial service will be 4 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. The service will be live-streamed via the funeral home's website.

Memorials in honor of Rebecca may be made to CASA of Seneca, Sandusky, and Wyandot Counties.

To send an online condolence, view Becky's tribute video, or watch her memorial service, visit www.hermanfh.com.