Bernice Marie Brasfield September 1, 1942 – December 21, 2018 Bernice Marie Brasfield was born in Beaumont, Texas, to E. Bernice (Blanchette) Brasfield and Sam Turrentine Brasfield, on September 1, 1942. She is proceeded in death by her parents, brother Tom Brasfield, and her ex-husband, Carl A. Schweers, Jr. Bernie is survived by her four siblings and their spouses: Sam and Suzie Brasfield, Bo and Donna Brasfield, Claudette and Johnny Patane, and Dot and Rusty Seymour. She is also survived by her daughters and sons-in-law: Lisl M. Schweers, David C. Harvey, Laura E. Schweers, Michael Swansen, and son and daughter-in-law: C. Andrew and Melissa P. Schweers, and grandson, Lucas A. Schweers.
Bernie grew up in Beaumont, Weatherford, and Austin. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, as a postulant in September 1958. She graduated Incarnate Word College with a bachelor’s Degree in Medical Records, and she received her master’s degree in Psychology from Mt.
St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles, California. Upon her departure from the convent and life as a nun, Bernie met and then married Carl A. Schweers, Jr, MD on June 25, 1966. Together Bernie and Carl raised three children, Lisl Marie, Laura Ellen, and Carl Andrew.
Bernie managed her husband’s outpatient medical practice and was one of several founders of the Oak Hall School in Ardmore, Oklahoma, among other philanthropic activities. When Bernie and Carl divorced, she moved from Oklahoma to Los Angeles to further her education and work with adolescents impacted by gang violence. In 1996 Bernie moved to Tucson, Arizona, to live in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
She was an active parishioner and educator at Santa Catalina Catholic Church. She enjoyed painting, hiking, loving her dogs, doting on her children, and designing her desert oasis. Bernie reunited with her “band” of Catholic sisters and friends in the late 1990’s and hosted one very special celebration weekend at her home.
These reunions were some of the happiest and most joyful occasions for Bernie, as she loved her sisters dearly, especially Margaret Cortese, Sister Dot Etling (now deceased), Sister Francine Keane, Philomena Mellody, Julia McHugh, and Carolyn Sullivan. Born: September 1, 1942 Place of Birth: Beaumont, TX Death: December 21, 2018 Place of Death: Tucson, AZ Survived By: Lisl M. Schweers, Daughter Laura E. Schweers, Daughter C. Andrew Schweers, Son Lucas A. Schweers, Grandson Sam Brasfield, Brother Bo Brasfield, Brother Claudette Patane, Sister Dot Seymour, Sister >Preceded By: Sam Turrentine Brasfield, Father E. Bernice Brasfield, Mother Tom Brasfield, Brother Carl A. Schweers, Jr. MD, Ex-Husband A few words from her “sisters”: MC: “Early on, I told her that Brasfield should not be her surname, but it that should be Golden Pastures, because even in adolescence I recognized her heart-of-gold kindness. Even over the years and to this date, I have found that kindness to be one of her defining characteristics”.
FK: “Bernie was truly an angel of kindness and generosity and I am so fortunate to have been the beneficiary of that kindness and to have known her. May she now enjoy in her new life all the happiness and joy that she brought to other in this life and then some! !
” PM: “Bernie had a strong spirit of living life to the fullest despite devastating illnesses and challenges. She kept her hopes high, her dreams at full speed ahead and her faith in full display. Her gifts of cheerfulness, laughter and huge store of love were generously shared with all who knew her.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
