On March 20, 2020 Bernadine Marie Wallace (Bea) left us to join her Mama in heaven. She was separated from her mother for just under a year, the longest separation in Bea’s sixty-nine years. In her last two years, Bea dealt with the challenges of adjusting to life in a group home and then losing her mother, with her characteristic approach to life. First, she put up something of a small fuss then she made her peace with her circumstances and made the best of her blessings.
Bernadine was born on January 18, 1951 to Berta Lee Boeker Wallace and Lawrence Dean Wallace in Houston, Texas. A nurse suggested the name because it was a joining of both parents' names. For the first few months, the family lived at her Grandma Boeker’s house. In the spring of ‘51, the family moved household and dairy to Schurmier Rd in Houston. Bea lived in this home until the fall of 2018.
Bea started school at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel but it was quickly clear that regular school would not provide what she needed. She always worked hard to learn what school offered. First at Henderson Elementary, then at Hartman Junior High and finally Ross Sterling High School where she graduated in 1969. Bea took away basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills and put them to good use.
After participating in a sheltered workshop Bea moved further out into the world of work. For a number of years, she worked in food service jobs at the Exxon Building in downtown Houston, the Piccadilly cafeteria in Almeda Mall and at Hobby airport. Bea was a reliable worker who showed up for work every day and on time. Nothing worried her more than that she might be late for work. After the airport job ended, Bea’s main job was being Mama’s hands and feet. Berta’s handicap was challenging but Bea was there to get the food from the freezer, put the laundry into the washing machine and dryer, even stirring the batter for the annual fruit cake when that got too hard.
Special Olympics were an important part of Bea’s life for many years. She participated in bowling, basketball, and bocce ball. Track and field was one of her best events, bringing home lots of medals especially in walking. Bea and her Mother did almost everything together. They went to water aerobics at the Y, to Garden Club meetings, and on trips with Generation Seniors at Mount Carmel. Weekly Mass was especially important to both of them. Bea participated by carrying the Offertory gifts and ushering during Mass.
Bea was never shy. She felt comfortable speaking with people and was happy to greet people she didn’t know. She also knew how to ask for what she needed and didn’t hesitate to ask questions when she was confused. She kept her sisters and her nieces and nephews up to date on everyone’s family news. You could count on Bea for a like on every Facebook post. Her sisters will miss her keeping the family circle tight.
The family is grateful for all the people who worked with Bea and made her life so complete. From school, to MHMR social events, to Special Olympics, and to the coworkers who showed Bea the ropes. For the last eighteen months, Bea has lived in an ICS group home and participated in daily activities at The Joyful Learning Center. She was secure and happy with a regular routine so that she didn’t have to worry because she knew someone would always be there for her.
Bea is survived by her sisters and brothers’ in-law: Patricia Ann and Michael Stevens (Sandy Spring, MD), Cheryl Lauren and Brad Boothby (Pearland, TX), Donna Lee and Gilbert Padilla (Spring, TX) and Mary Ellen Wallace (Houston, TX). One of Bea’s greatest joys was her interaction with her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. All of them will feel her loss greatly.
In lieu of flowers the family kindly asks that donations be made in Bea's honor to:
The Special Olympics-Greater Houston Area at https://give.specialolympics.org/page/contribute/texas19 or Treasures of Joy, 15302 Steubner-Airline Rd, Suite D, Houston, TX 77069.
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