Bernadette A. Balandran

Bernadette " Bernie" A. Balandran, 63, of Topeka, died Sept. 7, 2013, at Midland Hospice House. She was born in Topeka on Feb. 18, 1950, the daughter of Tony and Ramona (Garcia) Balandran. She was a 1968 graduate of Topeka High School. Bernadette worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield for 37 years, retiring in 2005 as an administrative assistant. She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, where she was a volunteer with the Fiesta Mexicana and was a former member of the Fiesta Committee. She was also a volunteer at Most Pure Heart of Mary School cafeteria. An avid traveler, Bernadette enjoyed reading, bowling, playing co-ed softball, making friends and watching classic movies. She loved to plan parties and events for family and friends and was a perfectionist to the last detail. She is survived by her sister, Olivia Diaz, Topeka; four brothers, Arthur (Naya), Robert Balandran and Walter Balandran, all of Topeka, and Tony C. Balandran Jr. of Victoria, Texas. Bernadette loved her nieces and nephews and she thought of them as "her kids". She is survived by three nieces, Suzanne Woodruff, Annette (Keith) Berry, and Angel Balandran of Topeka and one nephew, Joe (Anna) Balandran of Topeka, three great nieces and five great nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a nephew, Thomas "Tommy" Balandran. Bernadette will lie in state at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Friday after 2:00 p.m. where the family will receive friends from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. A Parish Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Bernadette's memory to Midland Hospice House or to St. Francis Foundation for Oncology and sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 S.W. 6th Ave., Topeka, Kansas, 66603. Online condolences and fond memories may be left at www.brennanmathenafh.com.