Hazel Bernard

BERNARD, Hazel Howell, 94, formerly of Petersburg, Virginia, died peacefully on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, in Roanoke. Born September 13, 1913 in New Kensington, PA, she was the daughter of Sidney James Howell and Hazel Siegworth Howell. Mrs. Bernard was the valedictorian of her high school class and attended Indiana, PA State Teachers College where she received her teaching degree. She taught in a one room school in Valley Heights, and later in the Mt. Vernon School in Pennsylvania from 1932 to 1939. In 1939 she married George Strother Bernard, Jr. of Petersburg, where they made their home. Among her interests, Mrs. Bernard enjoyed travels to Europe and the Far East. She was a talented amateur actress, a gifted singer, an avid reader and an expert bridge player, having attained the designation of Senior Life Master. She was a member of the Petersburg Garden Club and the Womenâ??s Club of Petersburg. She served on the Board of Directors of both the Petersburg Library and the Petersburg Symphony. She was an active member of the congregation of St. Paulâ??s Episcopal Church in Petersburg, VA, where she was among the first women elected to the Vestry and to serve as a Chalicer and a Lay Minister. Mrs. Bernard was a loving, generous and supportive mother throughout her life. She was preceded in death by her husband; her son, Sidney Howell Bernard and her grandson, Andrew Townsend Hatch. Surviving are her sons, George Strother Bernard III of Nassau, Bahamas and David Meade Bernard of Blacksburg, VA, and her daughters, Elizabeth Bernard Hatch of Lake Worth, FL and Hazel Lee Bernard of Roanoke, VA; her sister, Lois Ann Weidler of San Antonio, Texas; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The funeral service will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday, February 26 at St. Paulâ??s Episcopal Church in Petersburg, followed by burial at Blandford Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Country Club of Petersburg following the service. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Paulâ??s Church or Boysâ?? Home, 306 Boysâ?? Home Road, Covington, VA, 24426. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .