Beryl Joy Israel Cunningham

MARCH 25, 1927 – FEBRUARY 7, 2015

Beryl Joy Israel Cunningham, age 87, died peacefully in San Antonio, Texas on February 7, 2015. She was born in Covington, Louisiana on March 25, 1927 to Jean Pierre Israel and Laurence Vidrine Israel. Beryl was the second of six children: the first child, Rita Bernadine Israel, died at birth in 1926. Her family farmed in the countryside near Ville Platte, Louisiana. She attended Vidrine High School, where she was a majorette, and graduated in 1943 as the class salutatorian. Because of her academic achievements, she received a scholarship to attend Spencer Business School in Lafayette, Louisiana. She had many fond memories of being on her own in Lafayette, where, in addition to her studies, she found fulfilling work in an oil and gas company, reporting to Ms. Gloria Patton. Beryl enjoyed frequent weekend trips home to see her family, and often recalled her pleasure in gifting treats to her younger siblings.

Just before her nineteenth birthday, Beryl met her love, Thomas Rogers Cunningham. They married in Opelousas, Louisiana and began a long life together, raising their three children. The center of Beryl’s life was her family. She nurtured her children, and found pleasure and reward in creating and managing an inviting, comfortable family home. She prepared delicious meals from breakfast to dinner, sewed beautiful clothes for her daughters, planted colorful gardens, and actively supported her children’s school and athletic activities throughout their K-12 years.

Beryl enjoyed learning about and visiting new places. She especially enjoyed the long car trips she and Tom took to Colorado and throughout the Southwestern and Northwestern United States. They made two trips to Europe and one to Canada during the 1970s and early 80s.

Beryl and Tom had many friends, and particularly enjoyed entertaining their “supper club” buddies throughout the 1960s and 70s. Among her friends, two were especially dear to her: Verna Dean Demoruelle, her friend since childhood, and Jean Hurley, whom she met in her twenties. Beryl treasured her close, loving relationship with her sister Sherry.

Beryl’s religion was principal in her life. She and her family were among the founding families of St. David’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio. Beryl served on the Altar Guild, attended Bible study, and was active in the church’s program for testing children’s hearing in the public schools. She was a member of the Daughters of the King, an honor of which she was especially proud.

Among her interests, Beryl was a voracious reader throughout her life. She was especially drawn to history. Through her reading and curiosity about the world, she developed a quiet intellectual life. Beryl was known for possessing an incomparable sensitivity for and capacity to observe and recall with clarity and insight the intimate details of life in all its nuances.

Beryl is survived by her children: Thomas Cunningham, and his wife Patricia McIlhenny Cunningham; Kathleen Cunningham Rienstra, and her husband, James Marion Rienstra; and Mary Ellen Cunningham-Kruppa, and her husband Joseph Emil Kruppa. She adored her four grandchildren: Thomas Ryan Cunningham and his wife Jill Blau Siegelbaum; Lauren Elizabeth Cunningham and her wife Emma Blowes Cunningham; Jonathan Marion Rienstra; and Miles Joseph Kruppa. Beryl had three great grandchildren, who filled her later years with so much pleasure: Madeleine Paige Cunningham, Austin Kyle Cunningham, and Thomas Maxwell Cunningham. Beryl is survived by three siblings: Thomas Wilmore Israel, Sherry Ann Israel Comeaux, and James Arthur Israel. She was predeceased by her husband, her parents, and her brother, John Lowell Israel. One of the great sadnesses of her life was the death of her third child, Mary Susan Cunningham. She was born May 19, 1955 and died July 27 at the age of two months.

Beryl’s life will be celebrated on Friday, February 20, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 1300 Wiltshire Ave., San Antonio, Texas. A reception will follow at the church. All are invited to join the family for inurnment at Sunset Memorial Park after the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Daughters of the King of St. David’s Episcopal Church or the Sunshine School for the Deaf. The family wishes to thank Gentiva Hospice and the nurses and caregivers at Brookdale Alamo Heights who attended to Beryl’s every need with exceptional care and genuine compassion in the last four weeks of her life. Finally, we thank Beryl’s doctors: Robert J. Freeman, Zulfaqqar M. Jaffar, and Ryan N. Bourne. Top sign the online guestbook, please log on to www.sunsetfuneralhomesa.com.