On December 24th, 1941, God blessed Bobbe with passions for music, education, family, and faith.  Shortly after her birth in Yakima Washington, her parents, Peter and Elsie DeVries, moved the family to North Richland, where she would become a lifelong member of the Tri City community.   She was the eldest of seven children and learned at an early age to love and care for babies.

Bobbe was a gifted pianist and enjoyed classical music.    She spent many joyful hours practicing and studying music at the Christ the King convent.  She attended Richland High (class of ’58) and was active in CYO, choir and Pep club.  She later sang with Sweet Adelines.  Her love of music introduced her to her husband to be, Tom Burnside, while singing in the church choir.  They were married in 1958 and had four children – Vicki, Jim, Lynda and Caryle.  Bobbe was a devoted Mom and talented seamstress.   In many Easter photos, she and the children were dressed in her beautiful creations.  Tom and Bobbe would become divorced in 1966.

Bobbe’s passion for education is inspirational.  As a single mother of four, Bobbe earned her degree while working full time to support her family.  At work she took on increasing levels of responsibility as she began in administrative roles and then took on information technology roles at Hanford.    She spent decades taking classes and the whole family celebrated when she graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration from WSU Tri-Cities in 1993.  Bobbe retired in from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital where she worked as a staffing coordinator in 2002.

Bobbe stretched herself to be a loving mother on top of advancing in her career and earning her degree.  Nights and weekends were spent chauffeuring her children to dance lessons, shooting lessons, part-time jobs, Sunday masses, and large weekly family get-togethers at her mom and dad’s house.  Through this flurry of activity, Bobbe also maintained loving relationships with a handful of girlfriends; she would spend hours talking on the phone with them, particularly Donna Curtis and Eileen Hamilton.  With three girls, phone time was a precious commodity in the Burnside home, so she installed her own private phone line.

Bobbe celebrated her children’s accomplishments and was always in the front row cheering as they danced on stage, graduated from high school, and at every moment whether celebration or setback.  Next came their weddings; she became a grandmother with the first of her six grandchildren in 1984 and her “little people” were the highlight of her life – especially the babies.  They have great memories of time with her quilting, crafting, listening to music, reading, making cookies, playing with her cats, and enjoying the annual family get togethers at Cannon Beach.

In 2014, Bobbe moved to Hawthorne Court and enjoyed the friendships, activities, great food, and caring staff.  She entertained her family there regularly and they fondly recall Mother’s Day brunches, days by the pool, easter egg hunts, birthday celebrations and Seahawks parties.

Bobbe was a strong woman of faith.  Her children were raised in the Catholic church and through the years she was a parishioner at Christ the King, St. Josephs, Holy Spirit, and St. Patrick’s.  God called Bobbe Marie DeVries Burnside home on April 1, 2022, surrounded and comforted by her children, sisters and grandchildren who were the light of her life. She was 80 years old.

Bobbe’s values of faith, hard work, family and the importance of a good education live on in the family and friends of those she loved.  Bobbe was preceded in death by her parents Peter and Elsie DeVries.  She is survived by her siblings Jackie Brown, Pam Laughery (Lyle), Candy DeVries (Lee), Gayla Bratton (Scott), Melodie Lenkersdorfer (Duane) and Lindsay DeVries, her four children Vicki Bogenberger (Paul), Jim Burnside (Tammy), Lynda Bauder (Tom) and Caryle Brown.  She is blessed by six grandchildren Charles Bogenberger, Ashley Henry (Marcus), Jaimi Burnside, Rodney Bauder, Jennae Brown and Andrew LaBrash and five great grandchildren Harper, Elle, Delilah, and Faye Henry and Everly LaBrash.

Visitation will take place on Friday, April 8, 2022 from 5-7pm, with the Recitation of the Rosary beginning at 6pm at Einan’s At Sunset, 915 Bypass Hwy, Richland, WA 99352.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 10am at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1320 W Henry St, Pasco, WA 99301. Interment immediately following at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 915 Bypass Hwy, Richland, WA 99352. In Honor of Bobbe, please wear bright colors to services.