A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 3939 W. Tecumseh Rd., Norman, Oklahoma 73072. A rosary will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, February 16, 2026, at the church.
On Jan. 25, 2026, Leticia "Lettie" Bernardo Averion peacefully returned to our Lord. Born on June 16, 1936, in Manila, Philippines to Mariano and Esperanza Bernardo, Lettie was the oldest of 5 siblings. Being raised by a single mother after losing her father at a very young age, Lettie learned the value of hard work and perseverance. She loved math so much that she pursued a degree in Architecture at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, which for the 1950's was a rare profession especially for a woman.
Lettie met and married the love of her, Dr. Newton (Tony) Averion on December 8, 1961. Lettie always loved a man in uniform, so Tony's white doctor coat certainly worked its magic. In 1971, Tony and Lettie (along with their 3 small children) immigrated to the U.S. seeking new adventures in West Virginia, Virginia, and McAlester, OK before settling in Pauls Valley, OK. Lettie chose to devote herself to her family, embracing her role as a homemaker with grace, dedication, and love while teaching Arts and Crafts for special needs children at Southern Oklahoma Resource Center. After retiring in 2001, Tony and Lettie relocated to Norman, where they were active members of the Philippine Medical Association of Oklahoma (PMAO). They were both deep in their faith and devout Catholics and remained active at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. Together they built a strong and devoted partnership that spanned decades and continents.
Throughout her life, Lettie enjoyed traveling, dancing, bowling, shopping, and dining out. She was also a proud and enthusiastic Oklahoma Sooners fan, cheering for her favorite team with passion. But her greatest passion of all was spending time with her family and friends.
Lettie will be remembered for her warmth towards people, elegance wherever she was, unwavering faith, and absolute devotion to her family. Her legacy of love, kindness, and perseverance will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
Lettie is survived by her children, Alea Hashimoto (Rich) of Aurora, Illinois, Ariel Averion (Karen) of Fort Worth, Texas, and Auresa Averion of McKinney, Texas; grandchildren, Alec Hashimoto of Aurora, Illinois, Andre' Averion of Richardson, Texas, and Alysha Averion of Fort Worth, Texas; sister, Milagros Bernardo of the Philippines; brother, Armando Bernardo of Toronto, Canada: and a host of numerous family members and friends.
Lettie was preceded in death by her parents Mariano and Esperanza Bernardo; husband, Dr. Newton Averion; grandson, Angelo Averion; brother, Roberto Bernardo; and sister, Purification Bernardo.