Obituary

Bernadette Mae Hayward (Warbus) was born on February 18, 1950 to Isabelle and Floyd Warbus. She spent many years working at Whatcom Community College, located on the Northwest location, before the big expansion.

She was very persuasive, got her family and friends to do things they probably wouldn’t have done, such as drive through the flood, ride a motorcycle without a helmet, making extra stops, and thrift shopping. She also had a few nicknames, “hi karate” and “bulldog” were the two that stuck out the most to our family and friends. “Hi Karate” was given to her by Jon Davis, because she was taking a karate class, and each time he saw her he would say “hi, karate” as they exchanged greetings. “Bulldog” was because someone owed her money, and for 2 years, she saw the person that owed her, and shed get out of her vehicle to try and get her money that was owed back, and her niece asked well how much does he owe you, she said $5, so her niece said $5, how long has he owed that to you, she said I don’t know, about 2 years, her niece laughed and said “here is $5 now you can stop chasing him around, and she said you’re acting like a fricking bulldog, and aunty took the money and threw it back at her niece, and stopped chasing the guy who owed her money. She owned a motorcycle and a green beetle bug that she loved so much.

One of her greatest possessions was her Chihuahua “Minnie”, she took her everywhere she went, didn’t matter what anyone said, or who didn’t want the dog in their homes or cars, she took her anyways, and Minnie was super protective of her as well, they were lifelong companions. She took a lot of people under her wing, gave them a home to stay when they needed one and when introducing her nieces, she called them her daughters.

Bernadette is survived by her husband: Sam Hayward, children: Nathan Hayward and Joseph Splockton; grandson: Ethan Hayward; brother: Floyd Warbus Jr.; sisters: Joyce Tommy, Josephine Warbus and Claire Charles, numerous nieces, and nephews.

Preceded in death by her parents: Isabelle Francis Warbus, Floyd Warbus Sr; brothers: Ward Simmonds Sr, Louis Simmonds, Craig Warbus, Lloyd Warbus; sisters: Edna Simmonds, Freda Abrego, Joan Simmonds, Jeannette Warbus, Rose Warbus, Alma Jefferson, Cindy Warbus and Cecile Warbus.

A viewing will be held at Moles Ferndale on Wednesday, November 18, at 10:00am followed by a graveside service at Lummi Nation Cemetery