Leah Ann Berne

Leah Berne, 80, died Sunday September 9, 2018 at Wellmore Retirement Home in Tega Cay, S.C. She was in hospice care for 9 weeks prior to her death. Leah died peacefully in her sleep. She leaves her son Alan F. Gindoff , wife Jeanne Gindoff, grandchildren; Noah, Jake and McKenzie of Greenville, NC, her sister Kay Dillon and nephew Richard, wife Kristen and their children Andrew and Mathew of Norman OK, nephew Paul Dillon, wife Tamy and their children: Cameron, Carrigan, Jonathan, Ryan, Luke and Lexi of Temple TX; and dearest and close friend, Stephanie Rauch of Gastonia NC. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Frankie Patton. She was the granddaughter of her beloved grandmother, Mary Kate Doak of Sulphur, OK. Born in Monahan’s, TX October 28, 1937. Leah taught herself to read at an early age. She soon travelled the world with her husband, Alan S. Gindoff, who was a pilot and then diplomate in the United States Air Force. They lived in the Ivory Coast, Africa 1964-66, and Chad, Africa in 1968-70, where Leah started a kindergarten for the African children. Service in Diplomatic corps moved Family to Berne, Switzerland Where Leah obtained her Maters in Education at a distance education program threw Boston University. In 1973 Leah began her training at the C.G. Jung institute in Zurich, then interned in Paris, France and earned a Diploma of Analytic Psychotherapy 1978. While in Switzerland and pursuing her studies, she and her husband worked as diplomates and made a formidable team that facilitated the acquisition and adoption of the F-5 (Tiger II) fighter jet by the Swiss Air Force. Leah started her private practice as a Jungian Analyst in Washington, DC in 1980. In 1989 she moved to Charlotte, NC to be near her son while he was in graduate school. She maintained her private practice into her late 70’s. As a forever learner, Leah became a licensed massage therapist, a Trager practitioner, and a Feldenkrais practitioner in order to grow and transcend traditional psychotherapy as she worked to improve the life of her patients. In 2005 she moved to Norman, OK to be near her sister and her work reached a peak with a method she developed using hot oil and nurturance. This method brought comfort to many patients with chronic pain who could not find relief anywhere else. Graveside service will be held at 11:00AM Saturday September 22, at Oaklawn Cemetery in Sulphur with Jerry Billingsley officiating Arrangements by DeArman Funeral Home in Sulphur, OK. Donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Research Foundation or Hospice & Palliative Care Palmetto Region or the charity of your choice.

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Leah Ann Berne

October 28, 1937 - September 9, 2018