Bernice Baber

Bernice “Hoolie” Baber, a long-time resident of Carmichael, passed away Monday September 14th. A funeral Mass will be held 10am Tuesday September 29th at Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Carmichael. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Church in her name is appreciated. A second service will be held on Saturday October 3rd at 10 am at St Wilfrid Catholic Church in Woonsocket SD where she will be buried alongside Howard Baber, her husband of 57 years. Bernice Elizabeth Houlihan was the 5th of nine children born to Mike and Gertrude (Coughlin) Houlihan. Born and raised on a farm near Lane SD she graduated from High School there in 1939. Looking for work, she moved to Omaha NE where she met Howard Baber - they were married on 22 May 1948. Howard’s pet name for Bernice was “Hoolie” and it stuck. Friends and co-workers all knew her as “Hoolie”. However, to relatives, they were always “Bernice and Howard” – too much confusion asking for “Hoolie” at a gathering of Houlihans! In 1950 they moved to California, purchasing a house in Carmichael. Soon a room with a dance floor and bar was added on – Bernice and Howard loved to dance and entertain. Bernice worked as a secretary at American River College retiring in 1984. Bernice and Howard also loved to travel – cruise ships being a favorite venue. Both were active members of Our Lady of Assumption church and they enjoyed many church activities. Bernice loved ballroom dancing and participating on dance teams. After a long illness, Howard passed in 2005. Since 2008 she has been a resident of Harmony Home in Carmichael. Bernice was always stylishly dressed and kept a neatly arranged tool chest full of sunglasses in her garage so as to have the perfect pair that just matched her outfit whenever she went out. She loved clothes, shoes, and hats and had modeling gigs up until her stroke at age 86 – high heels and all! Even after the stroke confined her to a wheel chair, she enjoyed going to the shoe stores just to check out the high heels. Bernice is survived by a sister, Roseanna Bernison of Sioux Falls SD, and two brothers, Michael and Leo Houlihan both of Los Angels, and a brother-in-law, Bill Baber of Omaha NE. Deceased brothers and sisters include: Joseph Houlihan of Palisade CO, Marie Sweningson of Wessington Springs SD, Gertrude Sauter of Aurora CO, Ellen Pegg of Needles CA, and Patrick Houlihan of Oakland CA. Bernice was a beautiful lady with a beautiful smile who loved to tell stories - she will be missed. A life well lived – rest in peace. Sierra View Mortuary in Carmichael is handling funeral arrangements in California. Basham Funeral Service is handling arrangements in Woonsocket South Dakota.

Bernice Baber

February 28, 1922 - September 14, 2015