Bernice Machac Petru

Bernice Machac Petru was born October 21, 1933 to Bohumir and Gertrude (Kremel) Machac in the small town of Flatonia, Texas. She passed away with family by her side in Houston on December 25, 2020. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Robert Petru; daughter Karen (Petru) Morris and husband Greg; son Glenn Petru and wife Candice; daughter Susan (Petru) Maynard and husband Steve; her grandchildren Sarah (Morris) Land and husband Jordan, Jennifer Maynard, Phillip Maynard, Andrew Maynard, Grant Petru, Cullen Petru; great-grandson Hugo Land; sisters Agnes Keller, Emy Montgomery, Judy Lanik; brother James Machac, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded by her parents, brother Joe Machac, and other loved ones.

The fourth child of six siblings, she spent her early years in the small farming communities of Flatonia and later McCook, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley near her maternal grandparents. In 1942, her family moved to Houston so her father could work in the shipyards during World War II. When they first arrived they lived with her father’s parents and three doting aunts until they were able to find their own home. Many cherished memories were made with all her grandparents. She attended Christ the King Catholic School through 8th grade, and graduated from Reagan High School in 1952.

In February of her senior year, Bernice met a young soldier named Robert Petru, her Aunt Tillie’s brother-in-law. Stationed in Fort Hood, he came to see her on weekends, but was soon transferred to California and then Germany for another 15 months. They wrote letters everyday and patiently waited for each other. After graduation, Bernice began working in the accounts receivable department of Sakowitz Bros in downtown Houston. When Robert returned, they were married in November 1954 on a Monday morning so his brothers Fr. Gus, Fr. Stanley and Fr. Julius, all priests, could conduct their wedding Mass at Christ the King.

They enjoyed their young married life living in the Houston Heights. Shortly after settling into a new home in northwest Houston their first child Karen was born. Just 14 months later Glenn arrived. With her oldest not quite 4 yrs old, Susan arrived. Devoted loving mother, she was also a masterful juggler of three young children; volunteering in the school library and reveling in their accomplishments in school, Cub Scouts, Brownies, sports and band. As her children grew up, married, and started lives of their own, she welcomed her son-in-laws and daughter-in-law with an abundance of love, becoming the most adored mother-in-law anyone could wish for. Her grandchildren, Sarah, Jennifer, Phillip, Andy, Grant and Cullen were the light of her life, and when great-grandson Hugo came along that light shined even brighter.

Family and friends were her treasures in life, rejoicing in their special moments, saddened when they felt pain. She shared a close bond with all her siblings. Over the years she enjoyed selling Avon products and the fond acquaintances she made, serving her church at St. Ambrose as a St. Joseph’s Guild member where she made dear friends, neighbors in Oak Forest and Spring Shadows, the Senior’s group at St Catherine Siena after moving to Spring Shadows in 1999. She enjoyed gardening, flowers and nature, sunshine and pets, trips to the Valley and walks on the beach, and she was a downright amazing cook.

Forever blessed by her presence in our lives, we will all miss her warm smile and hugs, kind and uplifting heart, chocolate pies and oatmeal cookies, and the way in which she could ignore weaknesses, yet find and celebrate the strengths in all of us.

Her funeral service will January 6, 2021 ay Memorial Oaks.