Clara P. Bergstrom

Clara, a resident of The Towers in San Antonio, Texas passed peacefully in her condo
apartment on July 16, 2024. Her family was by her side providing comfort and care until
she slipped away into her Savior's arms.
Clara was born in New York City, New York on July 30, 1932 to Genaro and Rosalina
Pellón. After High School, she married and had a son with her first husband. She later
married a gentleman who enlisted in the United States Air Force. This marriage prompted
a globetrotting lifestyle to overseas locations and many state-side assignments. Her last
nuptial was in June 1986 to William (Bill) Bergstrom, whom she spent thirty-eight
wonderful married years embarking on thirty-two cruises, countless European and
stateside land excursions, and enjoying numerous social activities with close friends.
Clara had a pragmatic and assertive work ethic at the early age of fourteen. She
embellished her age to eighteen to employers so she could work in NYC to provide
additional support to her parents. She worked several part-time jobs during the summer
and school breaks. Before departing NYC in 1956, she worked as a telephone operator
for the NY Bell Telephone Company. Her next home was in Lake Charles, LA as a USAF
wife.
She continued to find work and was hired by Muller's Department store to work in the
cosmetics section. A personal memorable favorite of hers because of the exposure to a
variety of lotions, creams, perfumes, and the interaction with customers. Subsequently,
she moved to Puerto Rico with her then husband and son. She found work immediately
with the Puerto Rico Telephone Company as an operator due to her bilingual capability,
and later transferred to Ramey Air Force Base as a principal telephone operator. Her later
years in government civil service took her to Loring AFB, ME; McConnell AFB, KS; back
to Ramey AFB Puerto Rico, and finally to Travis AFB, CA. Her career culminated as the
Chief of Housing Facilities at Travis AFB where she retired with thirty plus years of federal
civil service.
After retirement, Clara was not done. She actively participated in volunteering her time
to the Red Cross at Travis AFB for fifteen years. She assisted service members and their
families with much needed clothing, food, and other items for their households. She also
worked tirelessly with the Linus Club for fifteen years crocheting blankets for service
member's wives and newborns and delivering them to David Grant USAF hospital at
Travis. She assisted case workers for disabled seniors with the Area Agency on Aging in
Fairfield, CA. She worked full-time for seventeen years with the Fairfield Community
Center organizing activities for seniors. She and her husband, Bill, were active Fisher
House contributors in addition to providing charitable financial support to the College of
the Ozarks. She also was a participant in The Towers Ladies Prayer Group.
In June 2013, Clara and Bill moved to The Towers in San Antonio to be closer to her son
and daughter-in-law. At The Towers they enjoyed the wonderful accommodations, social
activities, dining, continued traveling, and the friendship of Tower's residents. They both
dedicated time to helping their neighbors, became Eucharistic ministers, and involved in
resident community activities.
Clara had a charismatic personality, a most caring heart, and exuded a joyful presence
with everyone she interacted with. She had a quick wit with jokes, storytelling, and loved
to dance.
She is survived and remembered by her husband, Bill; her son Richard Gene Torrelli and
wife Kathleen; her sister, Margaret Pellón; brother, Dennis Pellón and wife, Peggy; her
brother-in-law, Kirk Bergstrom and wife, Barbara; sister-in-law, Lisa Wofford; numerous
nephews, nieces, and loving friends.
A memorial service for Clara will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 1:30PM at The
Towers, 1 Tower Park Lane, San Antonio, TX 78209.