Bercis Semra (Zaralioglu) Ovunc

Bercis Semra Ovunc passed away peacefully on Friday evening February 26th in Houston, Texas where she had been living with her daughter Ayse and son-in-law Grant McCracken since March 2020. She and her family were fortunate to have spent an incredible year together. Bercis was 92 years of age.

Bercis was born June 3, 1928, in Bolu, Turkey and raised in Istanbul. She was the beloved oldest daughter of surgeon Dr. Abdullah Zaralioglu and his wife, Muhlise. Bercis spent her early childhood years in Trabzon, Turkey, a small town located on the Northeast coast of the Black Sea, where her father was the administrator of the local hospital. Her family sent her along with her older brother to boarding school in Istanbul where the family would eventually move in 1944. In Istanbul, Bercis met and later married Bulent Ovunc in 1957. Bulent, a civil engineer, had an opportunity in 1965 to collaborate on a research project with a longtime colleague at the University of British Columbia and moved his family of three, himself, Bercis, and their 6-year old daughter, Ayse, to Vancouver, Canada where they would begin a new life in America.

In 1967, Bulent and Bercis began to explore opportunities in the US and moved to Lafayette, Louisiana where Bulent joined the civil engineering department at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Bercis quickly went to work settling her family in their new home - one that would become Bulent and Bercis's home for the remaining years of their lives. Bercis quickly made friends and found her way. The family became naturalized citizens in the late 1970's making the US their permanent home. In the meantime, Bercis became involved with the University Women's Club where she held leadership positions for many years. As a tribute to her father who passed away from a heart attack at the age of 51, Bercis got involved with the American Heart Association and led that organization's Annual Door to Door Campaign for several years. Over her many years living in Lafayette, she supported local social services programs focusing on women and children, foster children's organizations and later in life the Faith House of Acadiana. In her 80's, she joined her dear friend Susie Smith and volunteered to deliver meals to those in need through Lafayette Council on Aging's Home Meal Delivery Program. She was always grateful and wanted to give back to the community that had welcomed her and her family all those many years ago.

Bercis's zest for life, energy, and gregarious nature made it easy for her to surround herself with many dear friends. As the years passed and Bulent passed away, those friendships endured and meant the world to her. She was grateful for the friends made during her earliest days in Lafayette and the many new friends she made especially while exercising at The Fontana Center where she became known lovingly as "Mrs. B". Bercis, a big believer in exercise, was riding her Peleton up until November 2020.

Bercis is preceded in death by her parents, Abdullah and Muhlise Zaralioglu; her dear husband, Bulent Ovunc, her older brother Samim Zaralioglu; her younger sister Acun Bakici; and her niece Pitircik Zaralioglu. She is survived by her daughter, Ayse O. McCracken; her son-in-law, Grant E. McCracken; her beloved grandson Grant E. McCracken, II and his fiancé Sara Sheppard; her brothers Ergin and Mete Zaralioglu and their families along with many other relatives among the Zaralioglu and Ovunc families living in Turkey.

We, her family, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Bercis's friends from Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, and all around the world who supported her throughout these challenging few months. She was touched by your outpouring of love and words of comfort. We would also like to thank the dedicated team of physicians at HoustonMethodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, her caregivers from Evergreen Private Care (specifically, Precious Anyanwu), and her nurses from Vantage Hospice. We are grateful for their compassion and outstanding care.

On March 27th, private interment and celebration of life service at the graveside are to be conducted at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas attended by family members and long-time friends.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Bercis's name may be directed to:

Lafayette Council on Aging (Home Meal Delivery Program)

Payable online: https://www.laf-coa.org/supportus

Payable by check to Lafayette Council on Aging

160 Industrial Pkwy

Lafayette, LA 70508

Contact: (337)262-5990

Faith House, Domestic Violence Crisis Center

Payable by check to Faith House, Inc.

PO Box 93145

Lafayette, LA 70509