Biography
Mrs. Thelma R. Hernandez was promoted to Glory on July 4, 2007. Every year we will celebrate her promotion with fireworks. Nation-wide.
Excerpts from her Memorial Service by Pastor Tim Rolen on July 9, 2007:
Piano Prelude- Jan P.
Solo Native American Flute Prelude - Mark Hernandez
Special Music:
Duet - Joel & Amy Hernandez - “Soon and Very Soon”
Flute Solo - Mary Alice Whalley
Solo - Gene Sperling
"Welcome.
Good Afternoon and thank you for coming. If you have come to grieve Thelma's death, you will probably be disappointed, and you've come to the wrong place. I believe that comfort for our personal sorrow is found NOT in grieving, but in celebrating the truth that states “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints”! Thelma taught prisoners the liberating truth that the grace of Jesus Christ would set them free, free indeed. If that is true for the prisoners confined behind walls made my human hands, then I believe it to be even more true for those who walk behind the walls of Satan's death. Thelma is more alive today than she ever has been before - we will rejoice in a legacy worth celebrating and an eternity worth anticipating.
Remembering Her Life
**There are some things we can do today that are helpful and hopeful: I can encourage you to remember and share the love, joy and adventure that Thelma brought to our lives.
Thelma was born 72 years ago in Rapid City, SD, June 30, 1935 to Roland Thompson & Elsena V. Webster (yes, she was related to THE Noah Webster). She shared her parents with one brother & one sisters:
Evelyn Montgomery & John - Lombard, ILL
David Thompson & Pauline - San Ramon, CA
Thelma was the baby. (The Last shall be First)
Remembering Her School Days & Family:
Thelma was raised in Pineridge, SD. That's 111 miles from Rapid City, SD. It is on the Ogallala Sioux Reservation. At about 7 or 8 years of age she moved with her family to Ft. Dodge, Iowa and graduated from High School in 1953. She then attended Emmaus Bible School in Oak Park, IL. In 1955, Thelma was a lifeguard at Lake Geneva Youth Camp in Wisconsin. While there she met a young handsome Spanish speaker by the name of Gil Hernandez, who was working as a camp counselor. He was also attending Emmaus Bible School. Thelma wanted to become proficient in Spanish and Gil wanted to become proficient with Thelma - so they were married on August 3, 1957, in Lakeview Bible Chapel in Chicago, IL. Thelma's brother-in-law, John, sang at their wedding. They were blessed with four children:
Rindy & Gene Howard - Houston, TX
Mark Hernandez - Fresno, CA
Carmen Hernandez & Enrique - Mexico
Joel & Amy Hernandez - Dubuque, Iowa
She was blessed with 8 grandchildren: Josh, Nathan, Raquel, Benjamin, Sarah, Abigail, Sara, Grace.
Gil was in the Army when they married so they lived in Fountain, CO for 13 months; then in 1959 moved to Christian Home for Children in Colorado Springs, CO., as houseparent for teen boys; Then to Chicago awaiting departure to Mexico for Missions work where Thelma lived with her family for 21 years before moving to Fresno with Gil in 1985. Gil and Thelma became part of Ashbrook Church, Thelma the Organist and Gil our Missions Pastor. For the past 15 years she has been a committed and faithful volunteer with Prison Fellowship Ministries.
Remembering Her Occupations:
Thelma worked part time for Bea Rubio as an interpreter for 4 years; Full time with Cole, Fischer, & Hill as a Secretary Interpreter for 15 years retiring in Aug of 2004 to go into more prisons, more often.
Remembering Her Hobbies:
She had quite a collection of African Violets; Thoroughly enjoyed treasure hunting - garage sales and resale shops. Thelma liked Dogs, especially Boston Terriers. Then came Diamond, the Chihuahua she obtained in October of last year.
Remembering Her Vacations:
Fiji Islands, Hawaii, New Zealand, Cozumel, visits to family members scattered abroad the USA, and her daughter in Mexico; a trip to NASA with her daughter in Houston were some of her traveling/vacation highlights.
Remembering Her Favorite Foods:
Chocolate; Chocolate; Chocolate; authentic Mexican food; oh, and did I say Chocolate?
Restaurants: Quizno's & Tony Romas
Remembering Her TV & Movies:
“COPS” & “America's Most Wanted,” were 'must' see shows. She was also a BIG TIME WWF fan!
Remembering Her Music:
Thelma played piano, organ and accordion. She enjoyed Gospel hymns, & Willie Nelson
Remembering Her Sports:
In her youth and into adulthood, swimming & volleyball; she was a Brown Belt in Karate, but when she was asked to test for black belt she didn't think she was prepared.
Remembering Her Spiritual Background:
Thelma grew up attending church in their home listening to the radio preaching of Charles E. Fuller; She also attended Ft. Dodge Gospel Hall and at the age of 8 accepted Christ as her Saviour at a Bible Camp where Chinese evangelist Mun Hope was preaching.
Remembering Words That Describe Her:
Hospitable, gracious, non-judgmental, accepting, unconditional love, merciful, faithful, committed to Christ and others, compassionate, good sense of humor, really nice, really great, generous, very kind, humble, a servant, confidante,
Thelma dedicated the last 14 years of her life to the ministry of helping prisoners come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and to grow in their spiritual life; also by helping them sign up their children for Angel Tree Christmas gifts. She ministered in Atwater, Avenal, CCWF, Corcoran, Corcoran SATF, North Kern, Pleasant Valley, Taft, Valley State & Wasco. Some of the prisons she went into every week, some once a month and some once a year but she was always faithful to the call to serve. She was going into prisons 4-5 times a week.
Prison was a Family Ministry:
Gil located and confined them (works for the Fresno Police Department);
SO, that Thelma could care for their spiritual needs,
and Mark could address their mental well-being (State Prison PsyD.)"
On behalf of the Hernandez Family, we'd like to thank each one of you for your encouragement, prayers, meals, flowers, help, care, phone calls, visits, your love, and a shoulder to cry on. To Nancy Hinds Hospice and Mother's nurse, Irene, we loved you from day One. Thank you for your listening ear, and your timely assistance. A big THANK YOU to all.
Death for the Christian is turning off the light because the dawn has come.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7
"His [her] Lord said unto him [her], 'Well done, good and faithful servant... enter into the joy of your Lord." (Mat. 25:23)
+++
In lieu of flowers, a fund has been set up to help qualifying Angel Tree children with their continuing college education. Tax exempt donations can be sent to
New Hope Community Church (http://www.newhopechurch.net)
4620 E Nees Ave
Clovis, CA 93611
Attention: Thelma R. Hernandez Scholarship Fund.
.
Excerpts from her Memorial Service by Pastor Tim Rolen on July 9, 2007:
Piano Prelude- Jan P.
Solo Native American Flute Prelude - Mark Hernandez
Special Music:
Duet - Joel & Amy Hernandez - “Soon and Very Soon”
Flute Solo - Mary Alice Whalley
Solo - Gene Sperling
"Welcome.
Good Afternoon and thank you for coming. If you have come to grieve Thelma's death, you will probably be disappointed, and you've come to the wrong place. I believe that comfort for our personal sorrow is found NOT in grieving, but in celebrating the truth that states “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints”! Thelma taught prisoners the liberating truth that the grace of Jesus Christ would set them free, free indeed. If that is true for the prisoners confined behind walls made my human hands, then I believe it to be even more true for those who walk behind the walls of Satan's death. Thelma is more alive today than she ever has been before - we will rejoice in a legacy worth celebrating and an eternity worth anticipating.
Remembering Her Life
**There are some things we can do today that are helpful and hopeful: I can encourage you to remember and share the love, joy and adventure that Thelma brought to our lives.
Thelma was born 72 years ago in Rapid City, SD, June 30, 1935 to Roland Thompson & Elsena V. Webster (yes, she was related to THE Noah Webster). She shared her parents with one brother & one sisters:
Evelyn Montgomery & John - Lombard, ILL
David Thompson & Pauline - San Ramon, CA
Thelma was the baby. (The Last shall be First)
Remembering Her School Days & Family:
Thelma was raised in Pineridge, SD. That's 111 miles from Rapid City, SD. It is on the Ogallala Sioux Reservation. At about 7 or 8 years of age she moved with her family to Ft. Dodge, Iowa and graduated from High School in 1953. She then attended Emmaus Bible School in Oak Park, IL. In 1955, Thelma was a lifeguard at Lake Geneva Youth Camp in Wisconsin. While there she met a young handsome Spanish speaker by the name of Gil Hernandez, who was working as a camp counselor. He was also attending Emmaus Bible School. Thelma wanted to become proficient in Spanish and Gil wanted to become proficient with Thelma - so they were married on August 3, 1957, in Lakeview Bible Chapel in Chicago, IL. Thelma's brother-in-law, John, sang at their wedding. They were blessed with four children:
Rindy & Gene Howard - Houston, TX
Mark Hernandez - Fresno, CA
Carmen Hernandez & Enrique - Mexico
Joel & Amy Hernandez - Dubuque, Iowa
She was blessed with 8 grandchildren: Josh, Nathan, Raquel, Benjamin, Sarah, Abigail, Sara, Grace.
Gil was in the Army when they married so they lived in Fountain, CO for 13 months; then in 1959 moved to Christian Home for Children in Colorado Springs, CO., as houseparent for teen boys; Then to Chicago awaiting departure to Mexico for Missions work where Thelma lived with her family for 21 years before moving to Fresno with Gil in 1985. Gil and Thelma became part of Ashbrook Church, Thelma the Organist and Gil our Missions Pastor. For the past 15 years she has been a committed and faithful volunteer with Prison Fellowship Ministries.
Remembering Her Occupations:
Thelma worked part time for Bea Rubio as an interpreter for 4 years; Full time with Cole, Fischer, & Hill as a Secretary Interpreter for 15 years retiring in Aug of 2004 to go into more prisons, more often.
Remembering Her Hobbies:
She had quite a collection of African Violets; Thoroughly enjoyed treasure hunting - garage sales and resale shops. Thelma liked Dogs, especially Boston Terriers. Then came Diamond, the Chihuahua she obtained in October of last year.
Remembering Her Vacations:
Fiji Islands, Hawaii, New Zealand, Cozumel, visits to family members scattered abroad the USA, and her daughter in Mexico; a trip to NASA with her daughter in Houston were some of her traveling/vacation highlights.
Remembering Her Favorite Foods:
Chocolate; Chocolate; Chocolate; authentic Mexican food; oh, and did I say Chocolate?
Restaurants: Quizno's & Tony Romas
Remembering Her TV & Movies:
“COPS” & “America's Most Wanted,” were 'must' see shows. She was also a BIG TIME WWF fan!
Remembering Her Music:
Thelma played piano, organ and accordion. She enjoyed Gospel hymns, & Willie Nelson
Remembering Her Sports:
In her youth and into adulthood, swimming & volleyball; she was a Brown Belt in Karate, but when she was asked to test for black belt she didn't think she was prepared.
Remembering Her Spiritual Background:
Thelma grew up attending church in their home listening to the radio preaching of Charles E. Fuller; She also attended Ft. Dodge Gospel Hall and at the age of 8 accepted Christ as her Saviour at a Bible Camp where Chinese evangelist Mun Hope was preaching.
Remembering Words That Describe Her:
Hospitable, gracious, non-judgmental, accepting, unconditional love, merciful, faithful, committed to Christ and others, compassionate, good sense of humor, really nice, really great, generous, very kind, humble, a servant, confidante,
Thelma dedicated the last 14 years of her life to the ministry of helping prisoners come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and to grow in their spiritual life; also by helping them sign up their children for Angel Tree Christmas gifts. She ministered in Atwater, Avenal, CCWF, Corcoran, Corcoran SATF, North Kern, Pleasant Valley, Taft, Valley State & Wasco. Some of the prisons she went into every week, some once a month and some once a year but she was always faithful to the call to serve. She was going into prisons 4-5 times a week.
Prison was a Family Ministry:
Gil located and confined them (works for the Fresno Police Department);
SO, that Thelma could care for their spiritual needs,
and Mark could address their mental well-being (State Prison PsyD.)"
On behalf of the Hernandez Family, we'd like to thank each one of you for your encouragement, prayers, meals, flowers, help, care, phone calls, visits, your love, and a shoulder to cry on. To Nancy Hinds Hospice and Mother's nurse, Irene, we loved you from day One. Thank you for your listening ear, and your timely assistance. A big THANK YOU to all.
Death for the Christian is turning off the light because the dawn has come.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7
"His [her] Lord said unto him [her], 'Well done, good and faithful servant... enter into the joy of your Lord." (Mat. 25:23)
+++
In lieu of flowers, a fund has been set up to help qualifying Angel Tree children with their continuing college education. Tax exempt donations can be sent to
New Hope Community Church (http://www.newhopechurch.net)
4620 E Nees Ave
Clovis, CA 93611
Attention: Thelma R. Hernandez Scholarship Fund.
.