Mrs Hilda "Broomee" Ann Bernadou

Hilda Ann Bernadou left this life on April 15th, 2022, at 2:20pm after a devastating battle with Dementia. Hilda/Mom/Broomee was born to Frank and Josephine Silva on August 20th, 1934, in Fresno California. She lived the life of a Portuguese dairy farmer's daughter, which meant moving often around the Central and San Joaquin Valley. She attended schools in Madera, Tulare, Hanford, San Luis Obispo, and her favorite Santa Maria High where she was a featured Majorette. She talked fondly of those days of baton twirling and parading. After the family moved to the San Jose area and she proudly worked at Pacific Telephone as an operator. She was introduced to her future husband Adrian G. Bernadou whom she fondly called "Bernie". They married in 1956 and had four beautiful daughters as she liked to say. Sande, Annette, Michelle, and Adrienne. After a few more years in the Santa Cruz area the family moved to Auburn in 1968. Once settled in Auburn, she started work at Lincoln Way Elementary School where many of our childhood friends would know her from. In 1975 she went to work for a division of the Auburn Faith Medical Lab Services as a medical specimen driver and then onto a lab assistant in the Histology and Pathology departments, where she made many friends over the years. She retired in 1995 to enjoy more time with her children and grandchildren. Hilda had a passion for gardening, garage sales, travel and most importantly collecting dolls. She used to tell stories of not having dolls growing up, so she wanted to collect as many as she wanted. Her favorite was Shirley Temple as her birth year was the same year Shirley started acting. She loved learning and acquiring her Shirley memorabilia. She would spend hours every day learning all about the dolls and their details. Throughout the years she had acquired quite the most impeccable doll collection. All of us grew up with her famous garden vegetable tomatoes, zucchini, lemon cucumbers and string beans. She loved delivering them in an ice chest to the family and neighbors. She would travel by plane to visit me and right there was that big blue and white ice chest. Saturday mornings would be reserved for garage sales or pickin's as her longtime boyfriend David “Papa Dave” Tetrick would say. They were staples at any garage sale event. Along with of course the Moose Lodge where they were loyal members. Hilda’s second home was in Malibu with Michelle, Mark, Chauntelle, Emily and Nick. Mom loved seeing and chatting with the local movie stars. She attended the 5pm Our Lady of Malibu mass and would help with the usher service. She would love to go to the local elementary school to read, help in the nurse's office or do lunch duty. It seemed everybody knew her and loved her smile and great energy. She has many friends in Malibu who miss her dearly. Hilda was always up for travel and spontaneous road trips. She would belt out her favorite song by Willie Nelson “On the Road Again” and off we went. The last year was quite devastating on her health, but she still was managing to smile that smile. As she slipped away peacefully, I know she was greeted in heaven by those who went before her and whom she missed dearly, her Mom and Dad, her sister Olivia, daughter Sande, Bernie/Adrian, Papa Dave, and many others.

Hilda is survived by her daughters Annette, Michelle, and Adrienne. Grandchildren Kati, Charles, Valerie, Chauntelle, Whitney, Holly, Jessica, Emily, and her boy Nick. Great Grand Children Xander, Cahlea, Cora, Catarina, and Harrison. Son-in-law Mark Russo. Her loving and doting caregiver Sabine Kovich. Friends Jean, Judy, and Susie. And of course, her loyal kitty "Willie" named after one of her favorites Willie Nelson. May you be in Heaven singing, dancing, glass in hand and smiling like you always did. I will forever miss our looooong phone calls and many, many travels. You were my best friend and I know you're in a much much better place. You will be forever loved and adored.

A visitation for Hilda A Bernadou will be held Saturday, May 14, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Chapel of the Hills, 1331 Lincoln Way, Auburn, California. A funeral mass will occur Saturday, May 14, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at St. Joseph Church, 1162 Lincoln Way, Auburn, California. A graveside service will occur Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 2:15PM at New Auburn Cemetery, 1040 Collins Drive, Auburn, California. In Lieu of flowers we ask you to bring a plant that will be placed in her garden. A luncheon will follow to share stories and plant in our garden as she wanted. God Bless You.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ChapeloftheHills-Auburn.com for the Bernadou family.