Mary Annette Bedrich (Gustafson) was born on November 6, 1939, and passed away on Sunday, November 28 at the age of 82, after a brave and lengthy battle with a rare disease. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Edra Amanda and Fritz Samuel Gustafson; sister Martha Ann Montgomery and husband Lawrence Montgomery; many aunts and uncles; and her beloved grandmother “Moni,” Julia Marian Swenson.
Mary is survived by her loving and caring husband of 58 years, James Edward Bedrich; son David Lawrence Bedrich and wife Carol Ann; daughter Julia Elizabeth Talley and husband Damon; her three precious grandchildren, James Lyndon Bedrich, Callie Ann Bedrich, and Ellis James Talley; niece Mary Wanda Wilson and nephews John Montgomery and Matthew Montgomery, and their families.
Mary was born in Austin, attending Brykerwoods Elementary, University and O’Henry Junior High, and graduated from Austin High School in 1957. She attended Texas Lutheran College in Seguin where she was an active member of the choir, graduating in 1961 with a B.S. in Elementary Education and Minor in Music. Mary remained lifelong friends with people from childhood, high school and college, and cherished these friendships greatly. One of her favorite activities in later years was connecting with high school friends at their First Friday gatherings.
There were three fundamental elements to Mary’s life: Music, church, and her Swedish heritage. Her grandmother was the first organist at the New Sweden Lutheran Church, and her mother Edra was a pianist, organist, soprano, and Assistant Professor of Voice at The University of Texas at Austin. Mary herself was exceedingly gifted with a beautiful, angelic, soprano voice, and applied her talents throughout her life as a local Austin classical musician, soloist for Weed-Corley-Fish funeral home (often accompanied by her mother who was also a soloist and organist there), church choir member, and avid lover of classical music. No music was more moving, nor composer more personally influential to her, than J.S. Bach.
Mary and Jim met in Austin in 1962 through a mutual friend while Mary was teaching 5th grade at Brooke Elementary. They were married in 1963 at First English Lutheran Church in Austin, subsequently moving to Houston, where Jim was employed by a CPA firm and Mary taught 5th Grade at Frostwood Elementary. After the birth of David in 1964, they moved to Austin where Jim became Associate Director of Accounting at The University of Texas, and Mary taught 5th Grade at Brentwood Elementary. Julia was born in 1969, and they joined Redeemer Lutheran Church, remaining lifelong members. The fellowship, religion, close friendships, and music at Redeemer were the underpinning of their family life and were incredibly important. Mary was a substitute teacher at Redeemer from 1975-1983, and also taught Music for all grades from 1983-1998.
Early in their marriage, Mary and Jim enjoyed traveling to the Southwest. In later years, they traveled many times to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spent multiple Easters in Lindsborg, Kansas for the annual Messiah festival at Bethany College. The Lindsborg trips were meaningful to Mary as her mother sang in the festival in the early 1920’s while in college. Trips within Texas and to New England with the UT Retired Faculty and Staff Association were also highlights for Mary and Jim.
Mary was an avid needlepointer and cross-stitcher, and spent wonderful years enjoying and meticulously perfecting this craft. One of her favorite activities was gathering threads for upcoming needlework projects, and she beautifully stitched dozens of ornaments, samplers, and other pieces for friends and family. She thoroughly enjoyed working part-time at The Needleworks from 1986-1997, and became close friends with many fellow stitchers. She was a voracious reader, especially of British history. She loved all things Swedish, and was a member of the Vasa Swedish fraternal organization for several years. Mary was extremely interested in genealogy, and compiled detailed family history, also celebrating her Swedish heritage. She loved cats, diet coke, telling old family history and stories, collecting paper ephemera, and antique children’s books. Her joy of collecting was infectious and shared by many in the family. She loved to cook, amassing an impressive collection of cookbooks and recipes throughout her life, and was always ready to make a dish for someone in need or for a family gathering. Mary was extremely kind-hearted, intelligent, gifted, and had an enduring love for her family that has and will continue to carry us for all our lives. Above all, her three grandchildren were her absolute joys, and nothing meant more to her than spending time with them and watching them grow up.
Mary’s later years were challenging, while managing her Autoimmune Encephalopathy disorder, but she remained committed to her health and held close to her strong faith to carry her through the many challenges. The family is grateful to the many employees of Brookdale Northwest Hills and Brookdale Hospice for their love and care. Though her time with Brookdale was brief, it was very meaningful for her and she loved all of the acquaintances made. Above all, we would like to thank Dr. Scott Boruchow for his many years of compassionate medical care, expertise, and support of the family.
Mary will be incredibly missed by family and friends, but we are at peace knowing that she is in heaven with her beloved family, and is an angel amongst angels, singing praises to the Lord with her beautiful voice.
The family will receive visitors at Weed-Corley-Fish funeral home on Friday, December 3 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. The funeral will be held on Saturday, December 4 at 11:30 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1500 W. Anderson Ln, with private burial at Austin Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions to the Redeemer Lutheran Church Music Ministry or flowers are both welcome.
To God Alone be the Praise - J.S. Bach
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