Beatrice Bernice (Neiswander) Babrick

Beatrice Babrick of Petoskey, passed Sunday, March 10, 2019 at McLaren Northern Michigan.  Her family will celebrate her life at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.  Visitation will take place in the church gathering space beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Fr. Dennis Stilwell will act as celebrant.  Interment will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Grand Rapids.

She was born Beatrice Bernice Neiswander, at home in Bear Creek Township on February 29, 1920 to Edward and Elizabeth (Schmidt) Neiswander.  She was raised on the family farm near Crooked Lake and attended the Minnehaha Country School.   Her early years were shaped like many others of her generation by the Great Depression.  She worked at Crago’s Grocery Store to help support her family. Later during World War II, she worked for Foster Boat Works, where she helped to make canvas boat covers for PT Boats for the U.S. Navy. On November 5, 1949 she married Carl Babrick in Grand Rapids, where they made a home and began raising their family.  Carl preceded her in death on June 23, 1976.

Her family will remember a mom who cared for her children through thick and thin.  Her faith and strength of character helped her to overcome the challenges she faced during her lifetime.  She was always a source of guidance and strength for her children and grandchildren, who were the center of her life.  In her younger years she enjoyed gardening, mushroom hunting and making maple syrup.  She was a wonderful homemaker, a great cook and a skilled seamstress. 

Beatrice is survived by her four children, C. Frank Babrick of Petoskey, John (Jane) Babrick of Traverse City, Jeff (Maureen) Babrick of Petoskey and Mary (Richard) Carlson of Spring Lake.  She is also survived by 4 grandchildren, David Babrick of Traverse City, Maria (Ben) Liddil of Grand Rapids, Carly (Nick) Tahtinen of Walloon Lake, Daniel (Tayler Friend) Babrick of Petoskey and by her great grandson Oliver Liddil as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, 6 siblings and her husband Carl. 

Friends are encouraged to consider donation in her memory to Brother Dan’s Food Pantry.

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