“ Lady Slippers is a charming memoir that will make you want to pick up a journal and start living your own adventures. ” - AEB Reviews on Reedsy " Bernice did not do anything extraordinary, she was a regular person, just like most of us, but her life was truly amazing." - The Book Karavan "A touching memoir of a life that began 1920 and then stretched over a century of love, laughter, loss and success..." - Booklife Reviews Bernice Dietrich invites you into a world shaped by grit, grace, and quiet resilience. From dusty farm roads to motherhood, heartbreak to humor, her story unfolds like a well-worn quilt - stitched with memory, honesty, and love. Told in her own voice and preserved by her granddaughter, Melissa Bini, this memoir honors the beauty of an ordinary life made extraordinary by the simple act of paying attention. This is more than a memoir. It's a legacy of living boldly, loving fiercely, and never losing your sense of humor - even at 102. Witty, wise, and unapologetically real, Lady Slippers isn't just a walk through the past - it's a heartfelt reminder that every story matters. Especially the ones we think no one will remember. "A good deal of memoirs are written in response to a triggering incident, covering only a fraction of someone's lived experiences. There is, however, something quite homely about memoirs that paint a full picture of an individual, especially if it is reflective of a life well lived. Lady Slippers very much falls into this second camp of memoir. Written by Bernice Dietrich (completed and published by Melissa Bini), the book covers the full 102 years of Bernice's colourful life. Born and raised in 1920s Staten Island, America, Bernice's life was bookended by two pandemics with a World War in between. Told through her own words, Bernice paints a colourful picture of the experiences she had growing up, falling in love and forging a family of her own. As she documents her experiences Bernice's words draw in subtle cultural and political changes, including the changing American healthcare system that went through a rapid pace of evolution throughout the 20th century, from the advances in medical treatment to the erosion of local community services. Bernice's tale takes the reader up until 2007, when she stopped her memoir. She would go on to live for almost 15 years more, sadly passing away in 2022. The final third of the book picks up where Bernice left off in 2007, with family members from younger generations contributing their tales of growing up with Bernice as a family figurehead. There you see the charming flipside of outsider perspective, how the family viewed her as a proud and active individual with a passion for travel and sports. Reading this book you feel as if Bernice is in the room with you, recounting her tales besides a roaring fire. It's a comforting feeling that comes through on every page. And while Bernice's tone of voice and writing style does make the pacing a tad slower, it does make for a more gentler, steady read. A calm and methodical memoir, Lady Slippers is a charming memoir that will make you want to pick up a journal and start living your own adventures." - AEB Reviews "A touching memoir of a life that began 1920 and then stretched over a century of love, laughter, loss, and success..." -Booklife Reviews Melissa Bini has a background in product technology and a bachelor's in Media & Film from Kean University in New Jersey. She is a tech enthusiast who enjoys traveling, volunteering with a local animal rescue, and watching hockey. She embarked on the writing scene determined to share her late Grandmother's memoir, Lady Slippers. She currently resides in West Caldwell, New Jersey, with her wife and children. Bernice Dietrich was born on Staten Island, New York in 1920. She grew up in Travis then settled in Port Richmond with her high school sweetheart, Henry Dietrich. Bernice was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She joined the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 2018. Family describes her as loving, kind, stubborn, and full of zest. She passed away in 2022 at the age of 102.