Bernice Goodwin

Bernice "Bee" Veronica Goodwin, nee Holdener, 95, of Marysville, CA, peacefully transitioned at her home on Friday, December 5, 2025.

Bee was born October 19, 1930, in Belleville, IL, into a large extended family with deep roots in the surrounding communities.

Her father, Adolph Joseph Holdener, 1896 to 1985, was the eldest of ten children, and her mother, Veronica Catherine Siekmann, 1904 to 1985, was the second born of eleven children. Bee was the second born of six children. She had four sisters and one brother.

Bee graduated from St. Teresa Academy in East St. Louis, IL. She learned shorthand and other secretarial skills in high school and after graduating quickly found a job in St. Louis, MO, working as a receptionist and secretary, traveling daily by bus over the river into the city.

She met her future husband, Omer T. Goodwin, on a riverboat on the Mississippi where she sometimes went dancing with her sisters and friends.

Omer and Bee married on June 9, 1951, at St. Phillip Catholic Church in East St. Louis, IL. Their first child, David, was born May 13, 1952.

In June 1953, they moved to Marysville, CA. Bee worked part-time for a few years then started her full-time career at the Marysville law office of Rich, Fuidge, Dawson, Marsh, Morris and Iverson, where she worked as a legal secretary for 37 years before her retirement.

She has been a member of St. Joseph Catholic church since her arrival in Marysville. Bee was a member of the Catholic Daughters, the DOLs "Daughters of Leisure", and she was the Treasurer of the Twin Rivers Investment Club for several years.

She enjoyed traveling, cruises to Alaska, and the Panama Canal, golf trips with Omer and good friends, and weekend drives or overnight trips exploring beautiful Northern California.

She also enjoyed going out to dinner every Friday night after most of her children were adults!

Bee exemplified the definition of kindness and fortitude. She had a beautiful spirit that will always be our guiding light.

Bee was preceded in death by her husband, Omer, of almost 60 years, who died on April 20, 2012; her older sister, Laura Ring who passed away at 31 years old on March 6, 1959, due to complications after bearing her fifth child; and her sister, Marie Oelrich, who passed away at 91 years old on December 11, 2023.

She is survived by two sons, David M. Goodwin of Marysville, CA, and Donald L. (Michele) Goodwin, of Monroe, NC; two daughters, Diane M. (Jim) Smalley, of Yuba City, CA, and Deborah C. (Chris) Poling, of Roseville, CA; eight grandchildren, Laura Phillips, Alex Goodwin, Robert (Lauren) Smalley, Brandon (Brandi) Poling, Sarah (Adam) Mernit and Preston, Jeffrey and Ashlyn Goodwin; seven great grandkids, Hailey and Tyler Crowninshield, Nathan and Colton Smalley, Charlee and Wyatt Poling and Ruth Mernit; three siblings, Dr. Paul (Loretta) Holdener of Belleville, IL, Margie Dick of Marion, IL, and Doris (Leonard) Black of Caseyville, IL; as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

Thank you to Comfort Keepers and all of the amazing caregivers that took such great care of mom over these past few months. Thank you also to the kind, supportive nurses at Sutter Hospice.

Viewing and Rosary will be held at Lipp and Sullivan Funeral Home in Marysville, CA. Visitation from 3 PM to 6 PM on Thursday, December 18, 2025. A Rosary will be recited at 6 PM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 AM, Friday, December 19, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marysville, CA, with Father Jim Sullivan officiating.

Burial to follow at Sierra View Cemetery in Olivehurst, CA.