BERTHA DRAWDY HENRY

San Angelo Our beloved mother, Bertha Drawdy Henry, earned her angel wings on July 29, 2008 and flew away to join our dad, Frank Edward Henry, in a new and beautiful world dad has been preparing for her. Bertha and Frank have been married more than 64 years, and their love, even from the very beginning, was magical and eternal. Bertie and Frank's four daughters and their families: Franciene and Larry Mc Donald, Jean Stewart, Christine and Keith Elkins and Jill Henry are heartsick at the loss of their wonderful mother. Bertie's grandchildren; Erin Mc Donald, David Simmons and his wife, Carole and her great grandchildren; Michael, Matthew and Meredith Simmons and a personal family friend, Larry Mausteller delighted in Bertie's companionship and will miss her greatly. Prayer service will be 7:00 PM Thursday, July 31, 2008 at the Robert Massie Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM Friday, August 1, 2008 at Holy Angels Catholic Church with Father Charles Greenwell, officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. While Bertie appeared to live an ordinary adult life, she was no ordinary woman. Bertie was raised in the Charleston Foundling Home after her mother died just 4 years after Bertie was born. While most people have only one mother, Bertie had many mothers-- the nuns of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy. Instead of a few siblings, Bertie had over 50 children who shared the orphanage with her. While her childhood had been impoverished, especially during the Depression when the orphanage relied on donations to feed and clothe and house the children, Bertie always saw her life as good and valuable and precious and was more than willing to share her own material goods with others. Bertie kept in close contact with many of the good sisters and the orphanage children throughout her long life. Bertie was finally on her own after graduating from high school in 1942. She met the love of her life, Frank Edward Henry, during World War II at a USO dance at her church. After dating a little more than a year, the young couple were married, at St. John's Cathedral in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 1944. The war years were difficult ones for Bertie as she spent most of those years apart from her husband while living with his parents in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After her husband Frank returned home from his Naval service, the young couple began the task of building a beautiful life together. Bertie and Frank lived in numerous states and traveled throughout the Unites States. She and her husband were privileged to visit Italy twice to admire the wonderful culture and explore her husband's ancestry. Bertie was very creative in many areas. She was an excellent seamstress, a wonderful cook and of course, a perfect mother. In her spare time, Bertie learned to macramé, paint and embroider many beautiful designs especially of Southwest American Indians when she lived in Scottsdale, Arizona. Because of her warm and loving personality, Bertie made many warm and close friends wherever she lived or traveled. Bertie was active in her church while living in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Texas, lending her many talents to decorate and beautify the churches that she attended. She was a good and faithful servant of our loving God who watched over her throughout her long life. Bertie's last years were difficult especially after her husband Frank died. Even though she had lost the love of her life, Bertie continued to find reason to be happy. Bertie rejoiced in the companionship of her children and delighted in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, while she looked forward to the day when she and her husband could be together again. Her strength and courage during her last three years following her husband's death was a shining example to her family. Her daughters learned from their mother that no matter how difficult, justice and love will prevail. Bertie's life story could be described as one of gratitude and thanksgiving to our wonderful God who had shared so much joy with her. Bertie carried that joy into every avenue of her life, even when she could no longer do anything for herself. Even at the end of her life, Bertie had a sweet and generous spirit. Our family appreciates and honors the wonderful caregivers who loved and cared for Bertie as they would love and care for their own moms: Laurie Reyna, Elva Via Franco, Ann Guerraro and Marissa Avila. Without their loving concern and constant attention Bertie's last years would have been much more difficult. Bertie loved these fine ladies as she loved her own children and will be watching over them from her heavenly home. While we will miss our beautiful and talented mother, we know that Bertie now knows complete joy in the presence of a loving God whom she had served so long and so well. Thank you Bertie for always loving us. We will miss your warm smile and your gentle spirit and we hope one day to see you again. Your life has been and will always be a blessing to us.