Bernard Barzilla was born December 3, 1930 and went to be with the Lord on November 29, 2022 at the age of 91. Bernard was a first generation full-blooded American Italian with Sicilian ancestors. Proud of his heritage, he lived life to the fullest with his priorities of God, family, and friends. His ministry included keeping in touch by calling family and friends, learning of their prayer needs and starting each day in prayer. His prayer list was pages long. With his outgoing and engaging personality, he was never hesitant to share his Christian faith and advice with family and strangers. He was a witness and ambassador for Christ to his last breath. As he approached his life’s end, he remarked, “I guess I’ve witnessed to everyone the Lord would have me to.” His legacy includes a string of changed lives left in the hearts of those who gave their lives to Jesus.
Dad was born in Houston, Texas and married the love of his life, Jo Virgil Patronella, in 1950. He served in the army from 1951-1953, during the Korean War. He was proud to serve his country. After leaving the service, he and Jo Virgil operated Bernard’s Food Market in Houston, a small food market where they and their three daughters also lived. His life-long career, however, was working as a wine salesman/supervisor at Quality Beverage in Houston and after relocating to Austin, Block Distributing. He never met a stranger and made many friends on his route through the Texas Hill Country. He could tell a joke with the best of comedians… And he remembered those jokes forever. His laugh was contagious.
He and Jo Virgil, moved to the Austin area in the 1970’s and his family of three grown daughters soon followed with their families. He taught most of his grandchildren how to swim in their backyard pool at Lake Travis, where it was not unusual to find the daughters and their families throughout each week. Family was everything to our Dad and the grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved their Poppo aka “the candy and money man” as his pockets were always full of candy and one dollar bills to give away.
Dad’s most treasured hobby was playing poker, Texas Hold’em, from hosting games at his home early in his life in Houston to his waning days at the Morada Retirement Center in Temple, Texas. What he missed most about moving to Temple was leaving his many devoted poker friends in Sun City, Georgetown, Texas, who regularly stayed in contact with him. Lacking a poker club at the retirement center, he began this last six months to teach the residents the basics of his favorite game.
Bernard was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Jo Virgil Barzilla. He is survived by three daughters and their spouses, Brenda & Kerry Kennedy of Georgetown, Texas, Judy and Joe Regitz of Walburg, Texas, and Patti and Tony Trumps of Georgetown, Texas. In addition, dad boasted of 7 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. He sacrificially loved his family and was generous to the utmost. He will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved him.
Dad lived by God’s word and Micah 6:8 reminds us of his life:
“He has shown you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
A graveside service for Bernard will be held Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077 with retired Pastor Kelly Barnett to officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Samaritan’s Purse.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldendavisfuneralhome.com for the Barzilla family.
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