Bernadette Marie Beran, 96, of Caldwell, Texas, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 31, 2022, at TrueCare Living Center in Columbus, Texas.
A public visitation was held on Sunday, February 6, 2022, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Caldwell, followed by funeral services on Monday, February 7, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dime Box.
Bernadette was born on January 17, 1926, the daughter of Robert and Agnes (Supak) Bayer in Deanville, Texas.
She married Joseph John Beran of Deanville on October 27, 1947, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Caldwell. This union was blessed with six children: Mary Ann Beran who passed away at birth, Patricia Agnes Beran who passed away at birth, Betty Jo Beran-Sodek, twins, Joseph Lee Beran and Bernadette Ruth Beran both deceased at birth, and Jacob Jude Beran.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph; and three brothers, Ben, Alfonce, and Frankie Bayer.
In her early years, Bernadette worked at Woolworth’s Store in Houston, but soon returned to the life she loved in the country.
Bernadette was no stranger to hard work, and often could be found baling hay and farming right alongside her husband Joseph.
She milked cows and sold by-products of butter and cottage cheese, along with other farm fresh odds and ends at the local Deanville Beran Grocery Store.
She loved her chickens, dogs, numerous flowers, and tending to her garden.
She could often be found canning many homegrown goodies including okra, green beans, tomatoes, pickles and sauerkraut.
She was a craftswoman with her chopping hoe and was never afraid to defend her chickens with it from snakes or even the occasional skunk.
Bernadette was always very fond of her grandchildren. She was never afraid to play baseball, football, or whatever sport they coaxed her into participating in.
Aside from her agility, they will always remember her for her kitchen talents, including her famous side of mashed potatoes.
Above all, Bernadette had a faith of which others could model theirs by. She faithfully attended Mass on Sunday mornings, no matter how late she was out the evening before.
She made prayer a top priority in her life and could always be found at night praying her rosary and reading her prayer book long after everyone else was asleep.
She is survived by her daughter, Betty Jo Sodek and her husband, Larry, of Fayetteville; son, Jacob Beran and his wife, Marlena, of Deanville; six grandchildren, Chris Sodek and his wife, Leigh Ann, of Flatonia, Marcus Sodek and his wife, Kim, of Fayetteville, Matthew Sodek and his wife, Gabby, of Fayetteville, Leslie Orr and her husband, Taylor, of Burleson, Rebecca Gardner of Caldwell, Shawna Rassmussen and her husband, Carl, of Dallas; nine great-grandchildren, Duke Sodek, Summer Sodek, Henley Sodek, Emmi Sodek, Juliette Orr, Olivia Orr, Taylor Gardner, Claire Gardner, and Ava Gardner.
A special thanks goes out to Frances Sula, Sharon Moore, and Leona Parks for their wonderful help and care of Bernadette in her later years. Also, a sincere special thanks goes out to Janie Kristynik who was a roommate and close friend of Bernadette at TLC in Columbus. She was a genuine friend to Bernadette, and always there to talk Czech, pray or simply sit and be a shoulder to lean on.
Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 8282 F.M. 141 Dime Box, Texas 77853. Express condolences at PhillipsandLuckey.com.