Mother-in-law of Lillie O'Bee; cousin of Betty(Rex) Sullivan of Los Angles,CA; Mary Byrd of Las Vegas, NV and Penny Norris of Marthas Vineyard.
Ernestine O'Bee (1907-2007)
Ernestine O'Bee was a significant African-American female figure in the Milwaukee community, and retained that honor from her arrival in 1948 to her departure in 2007. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1907, earned a degree in social work from the University of Michigan in 1931, and moved to Milwaukee in 1948. She married Emile O'Bee the same year she arrived, and had two children named Emile Jr. and Patricia. At her husband's suggestion, O'Bee soon earned her mortuary science license, joined her husband's business as a funeral director, and became the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin State Board of Examiners for Funeral Directors and Embalmers in 1952. She was actively involved in local organizations like the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and was documented breaking ground on a plot of land donated by the City Development Authority in 1970. After her husband's death in 1972, O'Bee became the sole owner of her husband's business, O'Bee's Funeral Home (located at 2400 W. Center), and branched out in the years that followed. In 1975, O'Bee's Funeral home merged with Stinson Funeral Homes, Inc. after 52 years of operating independently. O'Bee continued to hold her position as president and treasurer of O'Bee's, and became a board member of the parent company. Later in life, her entrepreneurial abilities led her to found O'Bee, Ford, and Frazier in 1993, which was later renamed Northwest Funeral Chapel that same year. This funeral home is still in existence, and is located at 6630 W. Hampton Ave, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. O'Bee initially served as president and funeral director, and was active in the company until her death in 2007. Over the span of her life, she was recognized by several organizations, such as the Northside YWCA (3940 N. 21st) in 1973 for her creation of YWCA programs like the St. Matthew C.M.E. choirs, and the Zonta Club of Milwaukee in 1975 where she was elected to the Board of Directors. Ernestine O'Bee lived by example, and spent her life and career empowering women through service and advocacy.
Source: Wisconsin Historical Society
Contributor: Anita Pietrykowski (49212778)
Ernestine O'Bee (1907-2007)
Ernestine O'Bee was a significant African-American female figure in the Milwaukee community, and retained that honor from her arrival in 1948 to her departure in 2007. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1907, earned a degree in social work from the University of Michigan in 1931, and moved to Milwaukee in 1948. She married Emile O'Bee the same year she arrived, and had two children named Emile Jr. and Patricia. At her husband's suggestion, O'Bee soon earned her mortuary science license, joined her husband's business as a funeral director, and became the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin State Board of Examiners for Funeral Directors and Embalmers in 1952. She was actively involved in local organizations like the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and was documented breaking ground on a plot of land donated by the City Development Authority in 1970. After her husband's death in 1972, O'Bee became the sole owner of her husband's business, O'Bee's Funeral Home (located at 2400 W. Center), and branched out in the years that followed. In 1975, O'Bee's Funeral home merged with Stinson Funeral Homes, Inc. after 52 years of operating independently. O'Bee continued to hold her position as president and treasurer of O'Bee's, and became a board member of the parent company. Later in life, her entrepreneurial abilities led her to found O'Bee, Ford, and Frazier in 1993, which was later renamed Northwest Funeral Chapel that same year. This funeral home is still in existence, and is located at 6630 W. Hampton Ave, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. O'Bee initially served as president and funeral director, and was active in the company until her death in 2007. Over the span of her life, she was recognized by several organizations, such as the Northside YWCA (3940 N. 21st) in 1973 for her creation of YWCA programs like the St. Matthew C.M.E. choirs, and the Zonta Club of Milwaukee in 1975 where she was elected to the Board of Directors. Ernestine O'Bee lived by example, and spent her life and career empowering women through service and advocacy.
Source: Wisconsin Historical Society
Contributor: Anita Pietrykowski (49212778)
Mother-in-law of Lillie O'Bee; cousin of Betty(Rex) Sullivan of Los Angles,CA; Mary Byrd of Las Vegas, NV and Penny Norris of Marthas Vineyard.
Ernestine O'Bee (1907-2007)
Ernestine O'Bee was a significant African-American female figure in the Milwaukee community, and retained that honor from her arrival in 1948 to her departure in 2007. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1907, earned a degree in social work from the University of Michigan in 1931, and moved to Milwaukee in 1948. She married Emile O'Bee the same year she arrived, and had two children named Emile Jr. and Patricia. At her husband's suggestion, O'Bee soon earned her mortuary science license, joined her husband's business as a funeral director, and became the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin State Board of Examiners for Funeral Directors and Embalmers in 1952. She was actively involved in local organizations like the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and was documented breaking ground on a plot of land donated by the City Development Authority in 1970. After her husband's death in 1972, O'Bee became the sole owner of her husband's business, O'Bee's Funeral Home (located at 2400 W. Center), and branched out in the years that followed. In 1975, O'Bee's Funeral home merged with Stinson Funeral Homes, Inc. after 52 years of operating independently. O'Bee continued to hold her position as president and treasurer of O'Bee's, and became a board member of the parent company. Later in life, her entrepreneurial abilities led her to found O'Bee, Ford, and Frazier in 1993, which was later renamed Northwest Funeral Chapel that same year. This funeral home is still in existence, and is located at 6630 W. Hampton Ave, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. O'Bee initially served as president and funeral director, and was active in the company until her death in 2007. Over the span of her life, she was recognized by several organizations, such as the Northside YWCA (3940 N. 21st) in 1973 for her creation of YWCA programs like the St. Matthew C.M.E. choirs, and the Zonta Club of Milwaukee in 1975 where she was elected to the Board of Directors. Ernestine O'Bee lived by example, and spent her life and career empowering women through service and advocacy.
Source: Wisconsin Historical Society
Contributor: Anita Pietrykowski (49212778)
Ernestine O'Bee (1907-2007)
Ernestine O'Bee was a significant African-American female figure in the Milwaukee community, and retained that honor from her arrival in 1948 to her departure in 2007. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1907, earned a degree in social work from the University of Michigan in 1931, and moved to Milwaukee in 1948. She married Emile O'Bee the same year she arrived, and had two children named Emile Jr. and Patricia. At her husband's suggestion, O'Bee soon earned her mortuary science license, joined her husband's business as a funeral director, and became the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin State Board of Examiners for Funeral Directors and Embalmers in 1952. She was actively involved in local organizations like the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and was documented breaking ground on a plot of land donated by the City Development Authority in 1970. After her husband's death in 1972, O'Bee became the sole owner of her husband's business, O'Bee's Funeral Home (located at 2400 W. Center), and branched out in the years that followed. In 1975, O'Bee's Funeral home merged with Stinson Funeral Homes, Inc. after 52 years of operating independently. O'Bee continued to hold her position as president and treasurer of O'Bee's, and became a board member of the parent company. Later in life, her entrepreneurial abilities led her to found O'Bee, Ford, and Frazier in 1993, which was later renamed Northwest Funeral Chapel that same year. This funeral home is still in existence, and is located at 6630 W. Hampton Ave, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. O'Bee initially served as president and funeral director, and was active in the company until her death in 2007. Over the span of her life, she was recognized by several organizations, such as the Northside YWCA (3940 N. 21st) in 1973 for her creation of YWCA programs like the St. Matthew C.M.E. choirs, and the Zonta Club of Milwaukee in 1975 where she was elected to the Board of Directors. Ernestine O'Bee lived by example, and spent her life and career empowering women through service and advocacy.
Source: Wisconsin Historical Society
Contributor: Anita Pietrykowski (49212778)
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