Adrienne Sheltz Bernard

Born in Houston to May Louise and Robert Perry Sheltz on November 11, 1924, Adrienne married in 1948 and moved to Baytown in 1968 with her husband, Kenneth, and their eight children: Elizabeth (deceased), Robert, Jeannie, Kenny, Terri, Steve, Mary Anne, and Roberta.

In addition to raising her children, one with special needs, she worked full-time and was a very accomplished woman in her own right. A pillar of the community for decades, Adrienne volunteered, was a founding board member, and/or served in several groups, including: the American Cancer Society, Bay Area Homeless Services, Habitat for Humanity, Baytown Area Resource Assn, Family Self-Sufficiency Program of the Baytown Housing Authority, Futures for Families, a subsidiary of Baytown Housing Authority, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Advising Member, FEMA Board Member, St. Vincent de Paul Society board member and client assistance director, and volunteer for Pregnancy Resource Center. In addition, she sponsored a special needs child for many years in honor of Beth. It was important to her that everyone be treated with dignity. Adrienne's dedication and commitment to serving her community earned her The Baytown Sun’s top honor as Citizen of the Year in 2003.

Adrienne retired at the age of 78, having worked as a registered nurse in different capacities followed by a 27-year career as Executive Director of the Baytown Resource and Assistance Center. Over the years, some of her hobbies included reading, traveling, and refurbishing antiques. She was a devout Catholic who lived and loved her faith, which was evident in her community service and devotion to family.

Adrienne is preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Irene Tamborello and husband Eddie and their daughter Lou; George Sheltz and wife Margaret and their son Fr. Anton; Helen Raia and husband Samuel (Sammy) and their children Toni, Johnny, Danny; and Robert (Buddy) Sheltz, her eldest child, Elizabeth (Beth) Ann Bernard; husband Kenneth Bernard, great grandchildren Randie and Reese Paulsel, and other extended family members.

She is survived by seven children and their families: Robert Bernard & wife Teresa & their children Sheldon Burquist, Tera Burke (husband Travis), Travis Bernard (wife Mary & children, Connor, Aubrey, & Adrienne), and Duncan Burquist; Jeannie Richardson & her husband Larry & their children Jennifer Paulsel (husband Richard & their children Robbie, Rustie, and Rylie); Joel Richardson (wife Melissa & expected baby) Kenny Bernard & wife Donna & their children Chad Bernard (wife Holly & children Hayden, Hudson, Finn & Rhys) & Emily Vitullo (husband Joe & children Jake, Josh, & Hadlea); Terri Dickey & her husband Lonnie & their children Ross Dickey (children Keila & Thayer) and Amanda Kirksey (husband Josh), Steve Bernard & wife Glenda & their daughter Jamie Huston; Mary Anne Bernard; and Roberta Bernard.

Adrienne was a wonderful, wise, intelligent, gentle, spirit-filled woman with a delightful sense of humor. And even though she’s had a very full life with many accomplishments, she would tell you that her greatest accomplishment is her children. She loved her family beyond words, and we are confident she is with our Lord Jesus, praying for all of her family and community. She will be greatly missed.

Viewing will be from 4-7pm Thursday, 1/28, at Earthman's Funeral Home, 3919 Garth Road, followed by a Vigil service and Rosary from 7-8pm. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30am Friday, 1/29, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1907 Carolina Avenue in Baytown.

If you would like to honor Adrienne, please consider sending a donation to one of the following: Pregnancy Resource Center (https://www.prce.org/); Eternal Word Television Network (sd.ewtn.com); Unbound.org.

Please inform the family if you make a donation by emailing [email protected]

Eulogy:

Adrienne Bernard was 96 when she passed peacefully in her home surrounded by family.

So much could be said about Adrienne Bernard; she was many things to many people.

To some, she was Ms. Bernard, who was respected, looked up to, depended on, a leader in the community, charitable, and took care of people. She was very well-known in Baytown and surrounding areas as having a wealth of knowledge - she worked for Baytown Area Resource and Assistance center for 27 years- and was 'THE WALKING resource and assistance person - where do I send someone who needs to apply for a home? Where can I send this person to get help with their bills. She had many honors given to her for her dedication; she never did anything for recognition, but her diligence and servant's heart was always prompting her to give and do and help, and she was recognized with several awards, some of which include:

• Baytown's Dean of Social Work from Baytown Area Resource Assn in appreciation for her 21 years of dedicated leadership and participation as a founding member of the Assn

• From Baytown Habitat for Humanity, an award for being a charter board member "in grateful appreciation for 26 years of continuous commitment and service"

• From American Cancer Society, she was the Road to Recovery Coordinator of the Baytown unit, responsible for getting cancer patients rides to their appts in Houston; her awards reads, "in grateful recognition of her leadership and outstanding service to the Texas cancer control program"

• She received a certificate of appreciation for Meritorious Service Rendered to the Diocesan Senior Senate for First Aid Service

• She was a board member for the FEMA Phase 13 local board and received the "Making a Difference" award with the United Way of Texas Gulf Coast

• She received a "thank you" award from Reliant Energy SHARE Program for her service from 1983-2001. Some of you may remember that for years, she had a radio spot at the end of their commercial where she promoted this program, which helped raise money for seniors and others who could not afford to pay their electric bill.

• She received the Magdalena Hinajosa Community Service award for "Outstanding Service to the low-income residence of the City of Baytown," presented by the Baytown Housing Authority

• She received the American Cancer Society SWORD OF HOPE award, "For Outstanding and Exemplary Service, reserved for those special volunteers exemplifying the Spirit of Cancer Control."

• And of course, you all know she received the prestigious honor of the Baytown Sun's CITIZEN OF THE YEAR on March 9, 2003 for all her dedication and commitment to serving her community.

From her friends and colleagues, Glen Pelts and Fran Parent

Adrienne was active in the Baytown community since moving here in the mid 1970's. She touched many people's lives starting with the Visiting Nurses Association and for 27 years as Executive Director of the United Way and Welfare League, which is now the Baytown Area Resource and Assistance Center. Over several decades she actively served on multiple United Way Boards of Directors. Among those she served were the American Red Cross, Sterling Library, St. Vincent De Paul Society, and founding board member for Habitat for Humanity, Bay Area Homeless Shelter, and Baytown Area Resource Association, and she was always willing to speak to groups about the services these organizations provided. She had a heart to help those in need by giving them a hand up. She was very active during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, overseeing the Christmas food boxes for needy families; she also supervised and was very personally involved in receiving, sorting and the distribution for Coats for Kids and Toys for Tots programs. She retired in December 2002 but stayed involved with Habitat for Humanity and St. Vincent de Paul Society. She was in her 90's before she stopped working for Habitat for Humanity, even when she couldn't read. Adrienne was a mentor, friend, and advisor to younger generations still serving the community at large and she always will be remembered as a woman who took care of the people in her community.

To some, she was Ms. Bernard, a woman of great faith and actions.

For decades, she was active in the Legion of Mary and the St. Vincent de Paul Society; her attendance in these groups was so invaluable that even after she could no longer drive due to her vision, people would pick her up so she could participate in the meetings. Her Catholic faith was the center of her life, influencing every facet of her being.

She loved traveling; she enjoyed cruises and her pilgrimages to Italy, Spain, Portugal, Vatican City, Mexico City, France, and twice to Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, and in particular, she treasured her trip to the Holy Land, where she was so moved being able to walk in Jesus' footsteps. (She also got to ride a camel.)

She loved ETWN and watched it every night and prayed the Rosary along with Mother Angelica; (she had a great admiration for Mother Angelica, and wanted to pray along WITH her); she made two pilgrimages to the EWTN monastery studios in Alabama and even appeared on television. Her last trip was a pilgrimage to EWTN for her 95th birthday with Steve, Glenda, Roberta, Becky and me.

To all, she was a woman of great tenacity. She had a true zest for life.

Even with a profound loss of hearing and eye sight, she never, ever gave up, never sunk into despair; she took care of all of her finances and personal business, she read all four gospels and several prayers books and meditations on her machine using only a slight amount of her peripheral vision; being an avid reader with limited vision, she also enjoyed listening to recorded books from Lighthouse for the Blind; she listened to the news and kept up with current events at all times, and she never missed voting in any of the elections, even if we had to read the names of the candidates so she could make an informed decision.

To some, she was the family matriarch. Her children depended on her and listened to her sage advice. She always said her greatest Reward was having 8 children, 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren (plus one on the way and 2 deceased).

Here are a few memories from her children:

• Bobby - she was very patriotic, loved our country and was super supportive about my choice for a U.S. Navy career. She was always wanting me to wear my dress uniforms.

• Jeannie- she was a faith-filled, moving mother grandmother and great grandmother.

• Kenny- She was my friend and loving mother, and we both loved being able to call each other neighbor.

• Terri - Mother was always lovely to my friends when we came to visit. My friends always asked about Mother and how she was doing. She was always happy to hear from me when I phoned; we would talk about family and current events. Mother was kind to everyone.

• Steve - Mother has inspired so many people in her life's journey in such a positive spiritual way that continues to influence my life on a daily basis. She is my mentor and role model, and guides my journey in faith.

• Roberta - Mother and I had a very unique and special relationship; she was so much a part of my life in every single detail. I always enjoyed being with her. Even though I have my own home, I always felt that wherever she was, I was really at home. My spiritual journey began with Mother, not only with baptism and upbringing in the Catholic faith but as a spiritual companion on the journey.

• As for myself, she was my cheerleader, my coach, my best friend; we laughed a lot together; I just loved spending time with her, and I loved her sense of humor. Her appreciation for antiques is something she passed on to me. We loved to take short little trips together and wherever we went, we would always explore antique shops. But really, we just had a wonderful time together. She really laid the foundation for our faith.

To many, she was Grandma or Great-Grandma. She loved the children in her life, all of whom have favorite stories and memories of her, playing with their hair, playing games, letting them jump on her furniture - too many memories to be mentioned here.

To her caretakers, she was Momma or Ms. Adrienne or Ms. Bernard. They waited on her, took the load off of her, helped her, and yet respected her, knowing who was still in charge and who had the final say. I'd also like to recognize her caretakers and extend a heartfelt thank-you to all of them. They took Mother to adoration, Mass, prayed the Rosary with her, so even in her state in life, my mother was a witness to her faith. I'm sure they grew in their faith because of her.

To many of us, she was best friend. She influenced us in positive ways. She was fun-loving and we knew her in a way that others did not. She was a guiding friend, a confidante, a spiritual friend, a loving and compassionate person who would listen and advise. She was someone to laugh with and cry with and pray with. To quote our good family friend, Becky, she was my other mother, my dear friend like none other. She was everything a friend should be. I love her dearly and will miss our visits and laughs.

So much could be said about Adrienne Bernard - more than what can be contained in 3 pages. She loved her family, her friends, and her wonderful caretakers. She was a strong and independent woman. She was someone who cared about her country and politics and never wavered from her strong beliefs. She meant so much and was so many things to so many people. But this we can be sure of - she was an over-comer; she was faithful to the very end. And she will be greatly missed.