Bernice Huisman-Humbert's Obituary
Bernice A. Huisman-Humbert
September 30, 1942 – August 25, 2022
Oakland resident since 1975
The family of Bernice Huisman-Humbert mourns her passing on August 25, 2022. She is survived by her loving husband, Joe, of 45 years, as well as her two sons, Michael and David, her brother, Paul, and sister, Rose, both in Minnesota.
Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1942, she moved with her parents and her seven siblings to Minneapolis, Minnesota where she went to various Catholic schools, earning a college degree in child development at St. Mary’s College.
After repeated trips to Northern California in the 1970s, she made the move permanent in 1975, landing in Berkeley, then in Oakland. It was there, working at a data processing center, that she met Joe. After a one-year whirlwind courtship, they married in 1977. Upon the birth of Michael, Bernice opted not to go back to the office but started to watch young children. When the family moved to their first home on Sunkist Drive in Oakland, in 1980, Bernice decided to put her child development training to bear, opening a family day care. With no business experience, her strong Midwestern stock gave her the grit and courage to go it alone for one year. Her love of children was most apparent to those early clients willing to give this newcomer a chance.
As the number of children grew, she needed help and convinced Joe to quit his job and join her, giving birth to Bernice & Joe Playschool. It survives to this day, 42 years later. From its humble beginning of two children, the Playschool grew in the 1990s to 26 children and four staff. After taking care of more than 600 toddlers over the years, the reputation of the school remained consistently high, a pillar in the industry. However, deciding that 36 years in the business was enough, Bernice and Joe sold the Playschool to a former teacher who runs it to this day and has opted to keep the name.
Always adventurous, Bernice (at times with young David) made many trips to Mexico and even traveled with a childcare group to Sweden and Wales. We have many wonderful memories of family trips to Minnesota, Louisiana, Los Angeles, and Hawaii.
Bernice’s dementia became apparent in 2010, getting progressively more severe until she could no longer run the day-to-day operation. She has lived In a facility for the past six years where she has been well cared for. We will miss her laughter, her optimism, her genuine nurturing nature. All the Playschool families will remember her fondly and with great respect. Farewell, Bernice, we love you and will miss you forever.
Her ashes will be divided, and half will be inurned at Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland. The other half will be laid to rest at the Huisman family plot in Akeley, in northern Minnesota. In her memory, please contribute to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) in her name. A Memorial is planned for Bernice on September 30, 2022 (https://bernicehumbertmemorial.rsvpify.com/).
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