Bernardina Huarca

Berna Huarca was born on May 20, 1928 in Arequipa. Peru to Carmen Medina-Huarca and Miguel Huarca.

Bena committed herself to serve God at a very young age. When her father became a Seventh Day Adventist, he determined that she would be educated in Christian schools and she attended the Titicaca Seventh Day Adventist School on Juliaca,, Peru (now called Peruvian Union University of Seventh Day Adventist). When she finished there, she travelled to Argentina to continue her education at the University de Buenos Aires Facultad de Siencias Medicas, She earned her degree in Nursing. After graduation, she worked in the mission fields in South America Hospital Guayarramerin, Beni-Bolivia and Brazil. She then returned to Peru and worked at Clinica Americana SDA in Juliaca, Peru for serveral years and then later at Clinica Adventista Good Hope, Miraflores in Lima Peru.

Being awarded for her professionalism and best nursing skills, Berna was invited to come to the USA. She arrived in Tennessee and worked in Madison SDA Hospital there and then moved to Washington DC, Takoma Park and worked at Washington Adventist Hospital. She later transferred to Eugene Leland Memorial Hospital in Maryland where she worked with doctors who highly regarded her for her professionalism. After some years there, she went back to Washington Adventist Hospital and worked there until her retirement.

Bena moved to San Antonio after retirement and lived near her sister, Ruth Gonzalez & family. She became a member of the Laurel Heights SD church. Berna was always very active in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. She was a faithful Deaconess and also taught in children’s departments for Sabbath School. She also worked with Pathfinders and Adventures or wherever she was needed for years. During the week, she would volunteer at the food bank or community service (Dorcas).

Bena enjoyed a variety of pass-times such as baking and decorating birthday & wedding cakes for friends. She loved to invite people to the house on Sabbath for a meal and fellowship. Berna also always wanted to talk about Jesus to whoever would listen. She considered it a privilege and a joy to spend her life in service to God and dedication to her family, to young people and Christian education. Her family and friends will always remember her kindness and committed faith.

Preceded in death by: Miguel and Carmen Medinca Huarca- Parents, Sister Victoria Huarca, who passed in her teens, Sister Josepha Huarca, Brother Angel Huarca (Adelina Huarca also), Elvira Condori-Huarca, Sister-in-Law (wife to Ernesto (Pedro) Huarca)

Survived by:

Brothers-

Ernesto (Pedro Huarca

Isaac Huarca,(Juanita)

Abraham Huarca (Luz),

Sisters-

Ruth Huarca-Gonzalez (Ramdames)

Esther Huraca-Ortiz

Sarah Huarca-Nguyen

Numerous nieces and nephews in Peru and the US, several in attendance today:

Jennifer Gonzalez

Sandra Ortiz

Jorge Ortiz

Miguel (Mickey) Ortiz

Benjamin Huarca.