Stella M. Bernard joined her beloved husbands, Bradford Rex Roberts and Albert Joseph Bernard, and her first-born child, Vicki Jo Roberts, in heaven on Sunday, January 25, 2015.

Stella met her first husband, Bradford Rex Roberts, a Lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corp, in 1941. Rex was killed in action on March 16th, 1944, leaving Stella a widow with two young babies, Vicki Jo Roberts and Bradford Rex Roberts II.

An invincible spirit, Stella raised her children as a single, working mother, until she met Albert J. Bernard (Bernard). They were married for 33 years and had two children together: Michele Bernard, and Albert Joseph Bernard III (Joe).  They raised their families together in New Orleans, Louisiana until he passed away in 1986.

In 2005, Stella’s home in New Orleans was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. She moved to Los Angeles to be near her daughter, Michele, and her son, Bernard, and maintained her own apartment which she filled with her beautiful needlepoint work.

In 2010 she penned and published an autobiography of her time married to Rex Roberts, and journey as a young widow and mother in the difficult years of WWII.

These experiences forged Stella’s strength, resiliency and ability to see a silver lining in just about anything – traits that served her throughout her life. The two greatest loves of Stella’s life were her family, and a good game of competitive bridge. She traveled widely to tournaments all over the world and became a bridge Life Master.  She was also a gifted seamstress at the couture level and a great party giver!

She is preceded in death by her husbands Bradford Rex Roberts and Albert J. Bernard, and by her first child, Vicki Jo Roberts, who passed away in 2012.

She is survived by her remaining three children, Bradford Rex Roberts II of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Michele Bernard Mehrabadi  and Albert Joseph Bernard III, of Los Angeles, California; her step-children Penelope Bernard Delery, Barbara Bernard O’Meallie, Priscilla Bernard and Jeffrey C. Bernard; and by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Picayune, Mississippi.  She will be interred at Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery, in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday, March 15th at 11:30 a.m. Those wishing to make a charitable contribution in Stella’s name may choose any organization supporting our men and women in the armed services.