John H. Bernier
June 2, 1934 ~ April 28, 2026
Born in:
Sanford, Maine
Resided in:
Sanford, Maine
John H. Bernier, 91, of Sanford, passed away at home on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
John H. Bernier was born in Sanford, Maine, on June 2, 1934, to Henry and Arline (Bourque) Bernier. He attended Sanford schools and graduated from Sanford High School, where he was active in football, baseball, and basketball.
Following high school, John joined the United States Air Force, serving in Dover, Delaware; Kippo, Korea; and Presque Isle, Maine. He was honorably discharged in 1957 with the rank of Senior Airman (A1C, E-4). John was very proud to have served his country.
After four years of active service, John attended barber school. Through a friend, he met Dorothy “Dotty” Day and immediately knew she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. They were married in 1959 and traveled all over the United States, taking trips each winter to a different destination for two weeks to a month.
John and Dotty had two daughters, Christine Bernier and Lisa Bernier, both of Sanford. They purchased a camp on Square Pond in Acton and together remodeled it into a home, where they lived until Dotty’s passing on October 1, 2014.
John worked at American Cyanamid for 30 years, retiring in 1992. He spent 25 years volunteering at the Sanford Soup Kitchen. One of his favorite pastimes was fishing and hunting with his friends. He especially loved summertime, when his family would gather at the lake for the day.
John proudly donated blood regularly and was recognized for donating 10 gallons.
He coached with SSYAA and served as a football coach. He was a pillar of his family and an all-around great guy.
He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy Bernier.
Survivors include his partner, Rachel Caron of Sanford; his daughters, Christine Bernier and her partner, Robert Woods, of Limington, and Lisa Bernier of Sanford; his grandchildren, Kimberly Palmer of Sanford and Stephanie Glidden and her husband, Ryan, of Sanford; and his great-grandchildren, Olivia, Ivy, Zoë, Austin, Leah, and Wyatt.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, May 7, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue, Sanford, with burial to follow at Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Springvale. Family and friends are invited to a reception after services at the Elks Lodge, 7 Elm St. Sanford.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider a donation to the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org
Services
Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, May 7, 2026 10:00 am
St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church
66 North Avenue
Sanford, Maine 04073
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To John’s family, Our sincere condolences to John’s family. Always a hello with a big smile. He will be missed on Thursday night Pub nights at the Elk’s Lodge RIP John. Sincerely.
Ricky and Rachel (Collette ) Burbank