Irene Bernadine Baker

Our mom was born on New Year’s Eve of 1918 to Agnorance and Charles Boney on their farm in Calvert, Texas. She was the first of four children and named for her mother’s sister, Irene. She was affectionately known as “Bern”. Bern and her siblings were raised as most farm children, doing many chores on the farm. She graduated with honors from Calvert Colored High School and majored in Home Economics at Houston-Tillotson University.

During her second year of college, Bern met a stylish young man at church who asked to visit her. This was the beginning of Ulysses and Bernadine’s romance, with the two marrying in 1939. Katrina was their first-born child, Ulysses, Jr. (who was always called Roscoe) was the middle child, and Sondra Juanita was their third child.

The family moved to Los Angeles in the early 1940s. Bern worked in the shipyards as a riveter during World War II. After the war ended, the family purchased a home, moving to the suburbs and lived on their beloved Stanford Avenue for 30 years. Bern and Ulysses formed a lifelong friendship with Marinell and Ezie Thrash, who purchased a home a few doors down from the Davis Family. The two families remain close to this day. Their son Michael and his wife Mattie were a help and comfort to Bern until death.

Bern worked at the Post Office before going back to school to receive her nursing license as a Licensed Vocational Nurse. She worked in nursing for over thirty years, including at the County of Los Angeles.

Bern and Ulysses divorced after 25 years of marriage and she was married for a brief time to Paul Baker.

As a single woman for most of her life, she made many independent decisions that served as role models for future generations. She was active in the Lutheran Church, singing in the choir and serving on several boards of Community Lutheran Church. Bern was also a founding member of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority in Los Angeles and was its last surviving founding member. She was a co-founder of the Jarvis Senior Center, serving Los Angeles County Seniors. She did water aerobics and traveled with her line dance group “The Yellow Rockers”. In addition to traveling throughout the United States, she visited Africa, Asia, and Europe, and took many cruises. She was a good baker. Everyone loved her desserts, with German chocolate cake being her specialty.

Bern was affectionately known to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as “Mama Dean. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren traveled far and wide for her 100th birthday celebration.

Bern retired early, later sold her home, and moved into senior housing. After a few years she relocated to North Carolina with Sondra, where they lived near Roscoe. After eight years Bern and Sondra returned to California, where they lived in Murrieta.

Bern is survived by Katrina (preceded in death by Art), Roscoe (Cherry) and Sondra. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Derrick, Forrest (Alice), Michael (Ramona), Heather (John), and Timothy (Justine). Bern is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Bern was preceded in death by her brothers James and Charles and her sister, Clarissa.

Many people loved and honored Mama Dean, but none more than her children, Katrina, Roscoe, and Sondra. We were blessed to have our mom with us for 103 years.