Helen Mary Bernardez

1923 - 2021

Helen Mary Bernardez
November 9, 1923 - May 16, 2021
Fort Worth , Texas - Helen Mary Strawbridge Bernardez, 97 years old, died peacefully on May 16, 2021 in her home among her loved ones. The date of her memorial service will be set at a later date. Helen was a cherished member of First Congregational Church United Church of Christ and in lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be made to the church at 4201 Trail Lake Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76109.
Born in Hart, Michigan, she spent her childhood on a dairy farm in Green Valley, Illinois. She disliked the chore of washing the milk bottles, but took pride in being the "water boy" hauling jugs of water on her horse stirrups out to the farmers at harvest.
As a young woman she was an adventurous sort. After graduating from Hanover College and earning her masters from the University of Illinois, she served as a short-term missionary in the Philippines. At 23, she took a train to San Francisco, boarded the ship "Marine Lynx" with a few other "termites" with whom she formed lifelong friendships. She spent New Year's in Shanghai and eventually wound up in war torn Manila. She made her way down to Dumaguete City on the island of Negros Oriental where she was an ardent and dedicated chemistry professor at Silliman University.
While at Silliman, she met and fell in love with one of her students, Constantino. After her mission commitment, they came to the US to get married in 1951 and for Constantino to pursue his masters. She resumed teaching when they returned to Silliman, refusing the elevated salary of American instructors and insisting that she be paid the typical salary of a Filipino. Her children have often encountered doctors and nurses who shared how she inspired them.
Her true passion was her family. In between various jobs she helped raise her grandchildren. As the brood passed through her home, she instilled in them her devotion to social justice, her love for education, her generous spirit, and her zeal for crossword puzzles and "Spite and Malice" (her favorite card game). Most importantly, she created for them a strong and lasting family bond.
She was a dedicated Christian all of her life. She expressed her faith in living, loving and serving as Christ would have and inspiring others to do the same. Her family will forever cherish the incredible gifts she shared and be guided by the example she set. The most trusted of mentors, she will be so missed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Constantino E. Bernardez, her daughter, Rebecca Alice Gonzaga, her parents, Oliver Franklin Strawbridge and Mildred Alice Schureman Strawbridge as well as all of her siblings, Lucy Alice Urish, Oliver Everret Strawbridge and Vincent Franklin Strawbridge.
Survivors: Daughter, Barbara and husband, Bob Verzosa; daughter, Priscilla and husband, Luis Villamil; son, David Bernardez and wife, Sharon; son, Dan Bernardez and wife, Melissa; son-in-law, Ernest Gonzaga, remarried to Vickie Acuña; and she delighted in the love of thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.