Helen Pearl Bernal

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 great-grandchildren; and one great great-grandchild.

Memorial contributions to HopeWest, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81506.

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 a Rosary on Thursday, January 5 at 7:00 p.m. and a Mass of the Angels will be on Friday, January 6 at 10:00 a.m.

The family encourages donations be made in Helen's name to HopeWest of the Grand Valley.