Kristina Esther (Pernu) Berney, of Astoria, died peacefully with family by her side, in Milwaukie, Oregon on November 24, 2023, due to complications from Parkinson's Disease. She was 82.

Kristina was born on September 16, 1941 in Astoria, Oregon to Esther (Palmrose) and Lauri Pernu. Her mother was born in Rauma, Finland, and her father was born in Astoria of Finnish parents. Kristina grew up in Astoria with her two younger sisters, Judy and Connie.

Upon graduating from Astoria High School in 1959, she attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington for two years and then transferred to the University of Oregon in Eugene, where she received her bachelor's and master's degrees.

She taught high school English in California for three years, and then returned to Astoria where she taught English at Astoria High School for two years. She later taught classes at Clatsop Community College. In 1967, Kristina met Bruce Berney. The couple married in 1968.

For many years, Kristina worked on and managed her family's mink farm, Trail's End Fur Farm, which was operational from 1940 to 1990 and located in the Lewis and Clark River area of Astoria.

Throughout her life, Kristina truly lived her values of family, faith, and music. She was a skillful, energetic, dedicated, and consistent homemaker and was well-known for her generous hospitality. A lifelong Lutheran with a strong interest in the liturgy, Kristina was a sought-after singer with a velvety alto voice and an authentically sincere presence. Kristina directed church choir for a number of years. She was active in the North Coast Chorale, church choirs, Naselle's Finnish-American Choir, Friday Music Club, Suomi Hall, and many other community organizations. Appreciative of Finnish language and culture and proud of her Finnish roots, Kristina visited Finland with various family members several times, most recently in 2004.

Although forever an Astorian at heart, due to medical issues in June 2020 it was necessary for Kristina to relocate to the Portland, Oregon area, where she resided for the last three and a half years of her life. After over 52 years of marriage, in July 2020 Kristina's husband Bruce Berney died in Portland.

Kristina is survived by her daughter Laura Boughton, sons Mark Berney (Kathleen), and Steven Berney (Theresa), six grandchildren (Devina, Orion, Brendan, Fineas, Emma, and Olivia), sister Judy Swanson (Derek) of Camas, Washington, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.