Bernadette M. Desouza

Bernadette DeSouza was born November 6, 1926 in Sausalito where her father worked on the ferry boats. She was the third daughter of Manuel and Maria (née Fontes) DeSouza. Previously, her family had been in the dairy business in Reno, Nevada. Wanting to return to dairying, in 1927 they bought a dairy business in Olema - a much milder climate than Reno.

There, she attended a one-room school house and graduated in 1940. After 15 years in the dairy business in Olema, the family sold out and moved to Novato in 1942.

Bernadette graduated from St. Anselm High School in San Anselmo in June 1944. A year later she graduated from the California School of Beauty Culture. Following graduation she worked for a year at the Damon & Oster Beauty Salon; however, the various chemicals and sprays used didn’t agree with her allergies.

In November of 1946, she went to work for the First National Bank in San Rafael and continued there until August of 1948.

In 1949, Bernadette started working for the North Marin County Water District and continued there through 1956. Soon after leaving the North Marin County Water District she went to work for Marin Municipal Water District and remained there through January 1961.

Shortly thereafter, she began work at Hamilton Air Force Base and continued there until 1975 when the base was decommissioned. From there, she transferred to Letterman Army Institute of Research at the Presidio in San Francisco and retired from Letterman Army Medical Center in February of 1988.

Bernadette was a member of Our Lady of Loretto parish for 65 years and was active in the Choir, the Altar Society and the Rosary Group. She was also a member of various Portuguese societies, including the IDESI and the SPRSI, and enjoyed weekly hiking with the Novato Hiking Club.

She had her opportunity to travel widely in the US and beyond; perhaps her most memorable adventure was a pilgrimage around-the-world with the “Blue Army.”

Bernadette’s life was centered around faith and family. An excellent cook and baker, she put on innumerable family holiday dinners, and several of her recipes are in active use today among her extended family. She was much loved by her six nieces and nephews, 23 grandnieces and grandnephews who looked upon her as an anchor of faith and love. Many of them remember vigorous weekend hikes with their Aunt Bernadette.

She died on March 16, 2022 in Petaluma at age 95.

Requiescat in pace.

Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church

Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church