“Babe” Errecarte was born in Los Angeles on January 14, 1919. Her parents were Fred and Adele Derbez, immigrants from France. She grew up on the family dairy in Pasadena, California. She passed peacefully at her home in Hollister on Saturday, February 18th, 2012.
As a small child, she was called Baby. The nickname was due to her being the youngest of four girls. Her older sister, Marthe plus two older cousins, Paulette and Yvonne who were raised by her parents. Her nickname was shortened to Babe when she started school.
She met her husband at the San Juan Hot Springs in the Cleveland National Forest, east of San Juan Capistrano. Her husband, J. R. Errecarte, known as “Queen” a native of San Juan Capistrano, was the hot springs life guard when they met. Following their marriage in 1940, they spent their entire married life in San Juan Capistrano.
Queen died in 1964. Babe moved to Hollister in 1992 to be near her children. She is survived by her children, James (Kathy) of Davis, Judy (Peter) Thibodeau of Aptos and Christy (Lewis) Mathis of Hornitos. She is also survived by nine loving grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, her 103 year-old cousin Paulette and numerous nieces and nephews.
For many years, she was an active volunteer in the American Red Cross, the Heart Association, PTA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Little League, all in San Juan Capistrano. She was an active member of the Hollister Nana’s Club. She was a fantastic cook and her flower garden was always a beautiful riot of color, an envy of everyone who viewed it. She was an amazing seamstress, making all the clothes her daughters wore to school.
She enjoyed crafting and knitting and always made donations to charitable organizations, having a strong belief in doing her part for others.
The family wishes to express their gratitude for the excellent care and companionship she received from Marian Silva and Gracie Hernandez.
A private family service will be held at the Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana where she will be reunited with her late husband. In Lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the American Heart Association c/o Grunnagle Funeral Home.
Visit: www.grunnagle.com for condolences.
