Rodolfo S. Bernal, known as Rudy to many and lovingly called Popo by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was called to Heaven on September 6, 2026, at the age of 76, surrounded by his family.

Rudy was born on April 13, 1950, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, to Maria Teresa Bernal and Rodolfo Bernal Sr. He leaves behind a family who will remember him for his humor, his devotion to family, and his way of making the little moments matter.

Rudy grew up as the oldest of eight children in Corpus Christi, Texas, and was a 1971 graduate of Roy Miller High School. It was there that he attended school with his high school sweetheart, Maria Elena "Mary Helen" Bernal, after the two met in junior high. The two later married on July 5, 1969.

Married for 57 years, Rudy and Mary Helen built a life together filled with love, laughter, and countless memories. Throughout their many years together, Mary Helen was devoted to Rudy in a way that never went unnoticed by him and their marriage was a beautiful testament to love and commitment.

Anyone who knew Rudy also knew he was a proud Dallas Cowboys fan and could often be seen wearing Cowboys gear. However, even greater than his love for the Cowboys was his love for his children, of whom he was so proud. Rudy found genuine joy in being “Popo” to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and had a way of making ordinary moments memorable. He was always ready with a joke, a tease, or a prank. Family members sitting with him at a restaurant knew to be on guard—because Popo might quietly roll up a straw wrapper and use it to poke someone in the ear or blow a rolled-up piece of napkin through his straw at you. It was the kind of silly mischief that could only come from him.

Rudy was preceded in death by his parents, Maria Teresa Bernal and Rodolfo Bernal Sr. He is survived by his beloved wife, Maria Elena Bernal; his children, Mary Alice Guzman (Gerald) and Rudy Bernal III (Telisha); his grandchildren, Hannah Pfrang (Jared), Arnold Perez (Skylar), Savannah Bernal (Jorge), Elijah Bernal (Destiny), EmmaLee Bernal, Isaiah Trigo, and Mariah Lee (Joshua); niece, Amber Price; his great-grandchildren, Noah, Olivia, Mateo, and Damien; and his siblings, Terry, Blanca, Jaime, Ruben, Rene, Alfredo and Rosemary, who will forever cherish his memory.

His family will miss his jokes, his teasing, his presence at the table, and all the little things that made having him around feel like home. Rudy’s greatest legacy is the family he loved and the laughter and memories he leaves with them.

Rudy’s family will receive condolences on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, at Treviño Funeral Home, 3006 Niagara @ Port Ave. Recitation of the Holy Rosary and Liturgy of the Word will begin at 12:30 PM. Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Park at 2:30 PM where Rudy will be laid to rest.