Obituary of Snefrid Helene Hanssen Hoolihan

Snefrid Helene Hanssen Hoolihan of Simi Valley, CA, passed away on July 11, 2016 at her home. A memorial service will be held at Rose Family Funeral Home 4444 Cochran Street Simi Valley CA 93063 on Thursday July 14, 2016 at 10:00am. Following the service, guests will be welcomed at the Hoolihan residence to join in celebrating Snefrid’s life by enjoying pastries and coffee, her favorites. Snefrid, or “Snef” was born on the island of Myken in Norway to Konrad Kristian Martin Hanssen and Edith Solveig Jacobsen Hanssen on February 26, 1940. Interestingly enough she grew up in a lighthouse called “Myken Fyr” (or Myken Lighthouse) her father being the “fyrvokter” (or lighthouse keeper), and experienced historical events such as Germany’s occupation there during World War II as a child. Myken is a small fishing community with just one street and houses built in one area, but they also had a farm with 2 cows and 12 sheep, and according to her brother she could be found in the barn more often than not. Following primary school, Snefrid went to the mainland at the age of 15 to further her education, graduating in 1962 from “Sykepleierhogskolen” (or Nursing School) in Bodo, the largest city in Norland County. She had a long career as a Nurse in Norway, as a member of the Norwegian Volunteer Service stationed in Iran, and finally here in the U.S. where she resided since 1967. She took great pleasure in her role as Mother to her two much loved sons Erik Howard Hoolihan and Michael Konrad Hoolihan, and they had many adventures together as her boys grew up. Snefrid was quite talented and loved to paint, knit, play guitar, tend to her potted plants, and cook. She was an animal lover, so a variety of dogs and cats plus a few other creatures were part of the family, always. Snef loved to be fashionable as her huge and colorful wardrobe could attest to, and as a collector of vintage and new jewelry always had the right pieces to go along with her outfit even if it consisted of a nightgown and slippers! She loved to shop thrift stores, explore antique stores, and spent many weekends perusing yard sales. She enjoyed spending time with her family and extended family here in Simi Valley which included her daughters-in-laws’ parents and siblings and their children, as well as keeping in touch with her loved ones back home in Norway. Snefrid was a kind and genuine person and a fun friend and was known for her sense of humor by all. She was a loving daughter, sister, and aunt. She will be remembered for being a gentle and patient mother to Erik and Mike, and was very loved by their wives Rachel Nowlin Hoolihan and Leslie Sadowsky Hoolihan who both genuinely considered her their other mom. Her favorite role for the past 18 years was that of grandmother aka “Farmor” to the four beautiful granddaughters she wished for and was granted…Kyra, Skye, Sophia, and Grace. She gave each of them some of her best traits, and always had stories and some hidden chocolate to share with them along with books, records, jewelry, dolls, and assorted treasures. Snefrid is survived by her sons, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters all of Simi Valley, CA. Additionally by her step-daughter Cerise Almeida Smith and her sons Matthew, Austin, and Robert, her step-son Robert Almeida and his children Avery and Chase, her sister Edith Katherine “Gull” Hanssen Holtvik, niece Anne Holtvik and her children Simen, Elin, and Lise, nephew Kyrre Ludvig Holtvik and his wife Bjorg Holtvik, her brother Kyrre Olav Hanssen and his wife Rakel Kristensen, her niece Snefrid “Frida” Hanssen Rue Halling and her husband Nils Rue Halling and their children Maren, Mille, Julie, and Leah, her niece Tone Kristensen Hoel and her husband Erik Hoel and their children Theodor and Kasper, niece Christina War Hanssen, and former husband Richard Albert Hoolihan. She is preceded in death by her parents, second husband Robert Almeida, and her brother-in-law Reidar Holtvik.