Bernice Petkere
1901–2000 (age 99)
Biography
Bernice Petkere earned the title “Queen of Tin Pan Alley” through a prolific songwriting career that produced timeless standards celebrated by jazz and pop artists alike. Her clever melodies and heartfelt lyrics captured the zeitgeist of early 20th-century America while remaining charmingly personal.
Colleagues admired her wit, kindness, and unwavering dedication to the craft of songwriting, and her influence still echoes in the countless performers who keep her music alive. Hollywood Forever Cemetery honors her enduring gift to American music.