Adrienne T. Bernier

Marie Therse Adrienne Thibeault BernierSanfordAdrienne Bernier, 103, of Sanford, Maine died peacefully of natural causes on October 14, 2016. She died in the presence of her loved ones and in the home she lived in for over 70 years. Her family took pride in her "centenarian status" and enjoyed hearing many expressions of astonishment and admiration for her achievement. For decades she took quiet glee at being told regularly, "Adrienne, you don't look your age!" She was a devout Catholic with a deep spiritual faith which sustained her throughout her life.Adrienne was born in Wotton, Quebec, Canada, the third youngest in a family of 16 brothers and sisters. She immigrated with her parents to the United States at age 9 and at 26 became a naturalized citizen, a month prior to her marriage to Ernest Bernier in November 1939. She was a homemaker for several years alternating between time spent caring for her family and working as a repairer in local shoe factories. She was held in high regard by her supervisors for her meticulous work.The most immediate beneficiaries of Adrienne's talents and devotion were her husband and three children. She manifested a strong and unceasing love in the way she cared for them. It was particularly important to her that her home and family be neat and well-kept and she took pride in both. She was an accomplished seamstress who made many outfits for her daughters. She produced hundreds of Memre's knitted slippers ("pichous") over the years and gifted them to family and friends alike. Despite their many attempts, no one could ever match "Memre's soup" which she would whip together to the delight of everyone. She was a strong advocate of education and regretted having to drop out of school early to help support her family. Later in life, she often marveled when she witnessed the power education had to help her children navigate their lives. She was widowed more than 40 years ago and made a new life for herself with travel, interacting with her grandchildren, and maintaining her home and property. She was very energetic and continued doing her own house and yardwork until her late 90s.Adrienne's selfless love was on full display when she welcomed her daughter and family back into her home at a time of special need and opened her home for many years to care for an elderly uncle and later for an elderly brother until they passed away. She was an adored mother-in-law and created countless joyful experiences and memories for all of her children and grandchildren, including baking favorite brownies, sledding in the back yard, knitting childhood blankets, picking blueberries, displaying her playful sense of humor, and giving and receiving countless backrubs. She was a model of strength and character with an easy photogenic smile who scattered love in all directions. She set a high bar for all the members of her family and her quiet example always spoke louder than words. Adrienne was preceded in death by her husband Ernest, her mother and father, Adelaide and George, a daughter-in-law Barbara Ingrid Bernier, and all 15 of her brothers and sisters. She is survived by her three children Linda Bernier Lamontagne, Jetta Bernier Aron, and Roger Harvey Bernier, her sons-in-law Ronald Aron and Michael Lamontagne, daughter-in-law Linda Bernier, seven grandchildren Michele, Brian, Kevin, David, Gabrielle, Stephen and Danielle and their spouses Craig, Jenni, Kimberly and five great-grandchildren Alison, Chloe, Owen, Ingrid, and Sam, sister- and brother-in-law Estelle and Armand Martel, and several nephews and nieces.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM, Saturday, October 22nd at the Holy Family Church of St. Therse of Lisieux Parish, 66 North Avenue in Sanford to be followed by burial prayers at St. Ignatius Cemetery. Afterwards, family and friends are invited to a luncheon and celebration of Adrienne's life at the Wormwood Center at Camp Waban on Route 4 in Sanford. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Waban Projects, a non-profit organization which promotes the welfare and education of children and adults with developmental disabilities (5 Dunaway Drive, Sanford, Maine 04073) (www.waban.org).Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale. Condolences can be expressed at the Condolences tab at left.