Bernadette Babe Molina

On that bright morning of January 5, 1973, at the Anaheim Regional Medical Center, Bernadette entered this world, a beautiful 6-pound baby girl, her parents, Maryjean Molina and Nelson Doloiras, celebrating her arrival. With bright eyes and a smile that could light up any room, she began her journey as the oldest and only girl in a family that would soon grow to include her much loved brothers, Nelson Doloiras II (7/31/1976) and Thomas Molina (3/21/1989).

Bernadette’s childhood was marked by grace and enthusiasm. Her mother, Maryjean, introduced her to ballet, pageants, and ice skating, igniting her passion for poise and elegance. She attended Walter Knott Elementary, Brookhurst Junior High, and graduated from Elsinore High School as part of the Class of ’91. Throughout her school years, Babe’s fun-loving and easy-going personality won her countless friends.

At the young age of 19, Babe ventured to the East Coast, where she pursued her dreams of journalism at a college in Boston, Massachusetts. Along this journey, she made new friends, shared an apartment with a roommate, and worked for Avon, all while attending college. Eventually, the call of family beckoned her back to California.

It was upon her return home that Babe’s life took on its most cherished role. On February 28, 1995, at Rancho Springs Medical Center, she gave birth to her beloved son, Jordan Ali Cooper, with her then partner Philip Cooper. Jordan was her prince and the center of her world. Bernadette dedicated herself to raising her son and being the best Ate, to her much-loved brothers.

In July of 2018, life took an unexpected turn when Bernadette was diagnosed with kidney failure. This challenge tested her in ways that most of us cannot begin to fathom. She courageously embraced the journey, undergoing countless tests, weekly dialysis, and making profound changes in her eating habits and lifestyle, all while maintaining unwavering faith. Babe put her hope in the Lord and trusted in His plan.

By 2020, even as her health would bring her to exhaustion, Babe went back to school and graduated from Stafford University. Bernadette’s passion for the justice system burned brightly within her. She had a firm commitment to seeking justice for the innocent and being the voice for those who couldn’t speak for themselves. This passion led her to pursue a career as a paralegal, a stepping stone towards her ultimate goal of becoming a lawyer. She wanted to make a difference, to stand up for what was right, and her determination inspired us all. Babe was full of life and love and had so many plans for the future. She knew that life wasn’t certain as she prepared for the worst and even though we didn’t know it, she was preparing us as well. As her health declined her spirit remained unbroken.

Babe’s journey was marked by challenges, resilience, and an enduring heart. She faced kidney failure and diabetes with grace and determination. She went through comas, emerged from them, and endured brain damage, spending over a year bedridden before being called to the Lord.

Her legacy is one of courage, love, and awe-inspiring faith. She reminded us that our time on this Earth is brief, and even in the face of adversity, she lived each day to the fullest with a smile on her face. She was independent yet dependable, passionate yet forgiving. She had an energy that could uplift even the darkest of moments, and she was always ready to welcome anyone into her home without judgment. She demonstrated that we don’t choose our family, but our family chooses us.

Babe’s faith was a cornerstone of her life. Raised Catholic, but her true solace and hope was found in the Christian church. She loved to worship, and the church was a source of strength and support during her trials. The church community joined her in prayer and became an integral part of her journey.

Let us not dwell in sorrow but find hope in the memories she left behind. Her presence was a gift, and her absence leaves an unfillable void. In our collective memories, in the stories we share, in the smiles she inspired, and in the lessons, she taught us. She is survived by her Mother, Maryjean Molina, her son Jordan Ali Cooper, her brother’s Thomas Molina & Nelson Doloiras II, her nephews, Tommy Molina (9/1/2012), Mi’Lo Isiais Molina (11/7/2013), Nero “Lalo” Hilario Molina(1/16/2021) and her niece, Zariyah Bernadette Molina (8/10/2022).

May her journey into eternity be filled with the same grace, life, and boundless love that defined her time with us. We take comfort in knowing that she is now in a better place, free from pain and suffering, and reunited with loved ones who have gone before her. You are gone but never forgotten, rest in peace, knowing that you have left a mark on the hearts of all who grew to know you.