JoAnn Bering Bailey Sellingsloh

JoAnn Bering Bailey Sellingsloh passed away peacefully at her home in Houston, Texas on February 16, 2025, at the age of 97 with her family by her side. A fifth generation Houstonian, JoAnn was born to Eleanor Statz Bering and Norman Joseph Bering on September 20, 1927. She grew up in small town Houston. Her ancestors emigrated to Texas from Germany, landing in Galveston in October of 1846, then made the four-day trip up Buffalo Bayou to Houston. Her great-great grandparents were among the earliest settlers to Houston, with many members of her family living in what was known as the “Bering Settlement” along Louisiana and Milam in downtown Houston. Soon they moved to a new neighborhood just west of Downtown Houston. As a young girl, her parents took JoAnn and her little “theether” down the caliche road a few miles west to spend time on the mostly coastal fields of the family farm south of the briar branch along Buffalo Bayou, where today you can get a prime hamburger under the live oaks planted at the Farm’s south entrance, swing away along its east banks of the bayou, or go to school just to the north of the long woods that was family timber. JoAnn was baptized and confirmed at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, attended River Oaks Elementary, Lanier Junior High, Lamar High School, then Hollins College, where she met James P. Bailey, an army serviceman from Philadelphia. She later transferred to the University of Texas and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. After marrying at St. Anne’s, JoAnn and Jim lived for a time in Philadelphia, where she became very close to her seven brothers-in-law and three sisters-in-law. There was great mutual love and affection between “Bam” and her in-laws, nieces and nephews. During this time, one of her brothers-in-law, John E. (“Snake”) Bailey married her little sister “Deedo.” Once Jim graduated UT law school, they moved back to Houston and soon the pair of siblings began raising their families together and were founding parishioners of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church and St. Michael Catholic School. With their five daughters in tow, JoAnn and Jim built a house within a grove of green trees she loved to picnic in the new section of the neighborhood her father developed on the old family farm, when soon thereafter, they added a son to the family. JoAnn enjoyed involvement in the Houston Junior League, the Children’s Zoo, Sagewood Country Club, The Houston Racquet Club, The Houston Country Club. She traveled with close friends and played a little golf, but the many years that followed were filled with high school and college graduations, cheerleading, baseball, weddings, grandchildren…and more grandchildren, and more and more great-grandchildren. In August of 1984, she married her sweetheart, the late gentleman John S. Sellingsloh, who spoiled her from the beginning with a Honeymoon on the QEII. They quickly brought their two families together with memorable family reunions in Horseshoe Bay, TX., and entertained their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren there and Pirates Cove, Galveston, TX., or enjoyed short trips with dear friends. They adored each other and were indeed inseparable. JoAnn was a strong, timelessly beautiful German woman deeply devoted to her Catholic Faith and had a wonderful dry sense of humor. She persevered through the Great Depression, World War II, Polio as a young mother, and survived COVID. Through it all, she always remained faithful, full of hope, loved her Country and cherished her life. A quintessential Mother, JoAnn forever thought up fun activities with her children. Her gift for creating and working with her hands emerged as a young mother with impeccable crewelwork, sewing for her home and making dresses for her girls, then a lifetime’s marathon in needlepoint, which led to an array of wonderful birth announcements for each of “Mimi’s” 26 grandchildren and 57 great-grandchildren, with more in waiting for the next addition. She was a passionate gardener, an amazing cook, especially known for her gravy, Apple and Pecan Pies, that were even better than goode. She created spaces in the garden and home that we cherish and can see in our minds eye, reliving feelings of delight and joy. Her vocation and greatest joy in life was being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother; hosting gatherings for holidays and birthdays was a timeless tradition. Mimi loved her great big, beautiful family so much and they loved her back. She was a model of forgiveness and always put her family first. We marveled at her example of aging with grace and charm, always greeting everyone with a smile regardless of her circumstances and left her family with a legacy of unconditional love. JoAnn is preceded in death by her parents, Norman Joseph Bering and Eleanor Statz Bering, James P. Bailey, granddaughter Mary Catherine O’Toole, sons-in-law Terry K. Bertin, John K. Broussard and her husband of 36 years, John S. Sellingsloh. She is survived by her five natural daughters; JoAnn Bailey O’Toole, Kackie Bailey Dunwoody (David), Patti Bailey Broussard, Paula Bailey Cole (David), Mary Bailey Arnold (Hal), and son James Patrick Bailey, Jr (Reagan), as well as daughters Nancy Sellingsloh Bertin Neikirk (Jim), Betty Sellingsloh Clarke (John), son Robert D. Sellingsloh (Elise), grandchildren from the Bailey family; Megan O’Toole Garcia (Joe), Maura O’Toole Pickup (Trevor), Amanda O’Toole Cluchey (Sean), Douglas O’Toole Jr., Lauren Dunwoody Collins (Porter), Kathleen Dunwoody Graf (Chris), Maggi Dunwoody Cummings (Eric), David Dunwoody Jr. (Mariann), John Broussard Jr. (Jessica), Emily Broussard Sperandio (Michael), Bradley Broussard (Mallory), David Cole Jr. (Kala), Matthew Cole (Julie), Christopher Cole (Heather), Emily Arnold Esparza (Mike), Catey Arnold, U.S. Army Captain John Arnold (Courtney), James Bailey III (Kathryn), Robert Bailey, and Anna Bailey Stonesifer (Pierce); and from the Sellingsloh family; Allen Bertin (Kara), Lindley Bertin Arnoldy (Jason), Walker Clarke (Lauren), Lizzie Clarke Hermes Daugherty (Clay), Laura Sellingsloh Brown (Christian), and John Sellingsloh (Courtney). JoAnn is also survived by her beloved sister, Deedo Bering Bailey, numerous and dear nieces and nephews and their families. The family wishes to thank the loving caregivers who helped her and John, most recently Frances Waterhouse, Kandi Vercher and Rosa Sandoval, her loyal friend Lupe LLanas, the amazing doctors and nurses throughout the years and wonderful care at Houston Methodist Hospital and most recently, Heart to Heart Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please direct any donations to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. A visitation will be held at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Rd., Houston, TX 77056, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 from 5:30 PM until 7:00 PM with a Vigil/Rosary For The Deceased beginning at 7:00 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Sanctuary of St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM. Mrs. Sellingsloh will be laid to rest at Glenwood Cemetery following Holy Mass and Reception. For those unable to attend in person, a livestream of the service is available at https://www.youtube.com/live/o6s7OOkhlHw beginning at 10:00 AM

JoAnn Bering Bailey Sellingsloh

September 20, 1927 - February 16, 2025