Helen Pearl (Lopez) Bernal
Marriages
James Bernal Sr.
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5A Death Notice - January 5, 2017
Helen Pearl Bernal, 85, Loma, died Dec. 30, 2016, at HopeWest
and Hospice Care Center.
Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church.
She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, James Sr.; four sons, James Jr.,
David, Joseph, and Paul; four daughters, Cindy Fry, Vira Crouse, Veronica Bernal, and Donna Redd; 29 grandchildren; 30 greatgrandchildren; and one great great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions to HopeWest, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand
Junction 81506.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5A Obiturary - January 5, 2017
Helen Pearl Bernal
October 12, 1931 - December 30, 2016
Helen Pearl Bernal joined the angels on Friday, December 30, 2016, at HopeWest, surrounded by her loving family. She was 85 years old.
Born on October 12, 1931 to David and Pearl Lopez in Antonito, Colorado, Helen graduated from Antonito High School where she participated in theatre as the lead in the high school play and organized
school dances. She continued to keep in touch with classmates,
and was very proud of her roots in the San Luis Valley.
Helen married the love of her life, James Bernal, in 1954 at St.
Augustine’s Catholic Church in Antonito, Colorado and moved
to Loma where together they lived for 64 years and farmed
sugar beets for Holly Sugar, Moravian barley for Coors, dairy
alfalfa, sweetcorn, and wheat.
They raised eight children in the Catholic faith: James
(Marlys) Bernal, Cindy (Glen) Fry, Vira Crouse (Roy Compton),
Veronica Bernal (Damian Cole), David Bernal, Donna (Robert)
Redd, Joseph (Mary) Bernal, and Paul (Becky) Bernal. Her
family lives on with 29 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren,
and one great-great-grandchild.
Helen worked as an elections judge for the county, was the
President of Altar and Rosary, member of the Loma Sunset
Homemaker’s Club, Catholic Daughters, lead tambourine player
for the Blowhards, and manager of the Cynnamon Ridge Band.
Helen managed to be in the PTA, went on many school field
trips, volunteered at preschool, was a Catechism leader, and
cheered for wrestling, baseball, football, cheerleading, soccer,
rodeo, and marching band. She always wanted to cook the team dinners for the Fruita and Palisade football teams, and the Fruita Middle School teachers; those boys and teachers loved her chicken enchiladas and sopapillas. Helen loved to stay up late at night doing chores, visiting and playing games with her children and grandchildren. Her home was big, but her heart was bigger.
Helen will join her family in heaven: parents, David and Pearl
Lopez; brother, Sonny Lopez; sister, Cynthia Dominguez, and
her beloved grandson, Jordan Bernal, will be waiting to give his
Grandma a big bear hug.
Reflection of Helen’s life will be at Sacred Heart Church in
Fruita, both Rosary and Mass on Thursday, January 5 at 7:00
p.m. and a Mass of the Angels will be Friday, January 6 at 10:00 a.m.
The family encourages donations be made in Helen’s name to
HopeWest of the Grand Valley.
