Bernadette Marie Weber

Bernadette (Nancy) Weber was born in Seattle on the 29th of April, 1948 and passed on February 17, 2012 at home in Centralia, WA. She is survived by her husband Neil, her sons Karl, David, and Ivan as well as her daughters Julie, Sophyia and Maria Weber. Bernadette was preceded in death by her grandchild Amelia Richards. She had seven surviving grandchildren: Adam, Andrew, and Adelyn Weber, Jacinda, Alamea, and Ryan Richards, and Elijah Weber. She is also survived by two brothers, Jerry, and Dennis Hamling, and two sisters, Carol Weber and Mary Anne Pettibone.

Nancy graduated from North Thurston High School in June 1966, and later received an AA degree from South Puget Sound Community College. Early on Nancy was a practicing nurse and worked for both Shelton & Centralia Hospitals as well as for Sound Home Health care. She was also trained in hospice care which she did for many years. She enjoyed taking care of people, and because of her quiet demeanor and often soothing and serene personality, nursing especially suited her. Nancy engaged her friends and acquaintances in the Olympia/Centralia area with a quiet, but penetrating intelligence.

Nancy was a dedicated Catholic, and her time at church was sacred to her. On one of their trips to Europe she and her husband Neil visited the Vatican. Nancy admired all the Saints but was especially fond of the Virgin Mary. So much so that they traveled to Medjugorje four times where the Virgin Mary has appeared to several children who are now adults. On their last trip to Medjugorje they stayed with one of the visionaries. At one point during that visit they witnessed Mariana, a visionary, receive a visit by the Blessed Virgin; they were sitting about 10 feet away from her when the vision occurred. There were about 30,000 people present, but she felt special for having been so close to Mariana during her vision.

Nancy’s confirmation name was Bernadette. The Virgin Mary had appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France, and Nancy liked the name. So later in life she had her name legally changed to Bernadette. She relished the fact that close friends and family referred to her as “Bernadette” in the last few years.

She developed a keen interest in Russian Iconography and studied the rare art in the summer of 1987 from the well-known iconographer, Charles Rohrbacher. She soon became a gifted iconographer in her own right. Nancy’s love of Saints was so prominent in her life that Father Neal from St. Martin’s College suggested she become more active with her iconography, which she did.

Over the years she wrote many icons. Some of these hang in local Catholic Churches, including several in St. George Byzantine Church near Olympia, one at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Centralia, and another at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Chehalis. Nancy taught iconography at St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Church in Seattle for several years. She also taught iconography classes at St. Martin’s College in Lacey as well as at St. George Byzantine Catholic Church near Olympia.

Nancy also conducted a class for young children in Lacey. She has held many private iconography classes in addition, which she conducted at her home studio in Olympia and later at her home studio in Centralia. Several of her former students have become serious iconographers and have taught students of their own. She was a member of the ARTrails Studio tours of Lewis County, and has shown her icons and other work in a number of local art exhibits.

A memorial service for Bernadette Weber is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 3, 2012 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Chehalis, WA. A reception luncheon will follow at the church. Services are under the care of Sticklin Funeral Chapel, Centralia, WA.