Eva Bernard

Eva Sirois Bernard, 104, passed away on May 14, 2011 at Curlew Care Assisted Living Facility in Clearwater, Florida, with her family at her bedside. She was born on February 21, 1907 in Frenchville, Maine to Joseph and Anna (Albert) Sirois, where she attended local schools. The family relocated to Holyoke, Mass when Eva was in her early teens and then to Springvale after the death of her father.Eva was married to Eugene Bernard on August 16, 1926. They were devout Catholics and lifelong communicants of Holy Family and then St. Ignatius Parish. She was a member of the Ladies of St. Ann and St. John the Baptist. She attended Mass almost daily, even in her declining years, and watched Mass on TV when she was not able attend in person.Eva was a graduate of Lewiston Beauty School in 1939. Until her retirement in the mid 1980's she owned and operated Eva's Beauty Shop with her daughter-in-law Yvette Bernard. Even after her retirement, she spent much of her time in the shop.Eva was devoted to her children and grandchildren. She was known for her excellent cooking, especially baking, which she did almost always from scratch from recipes she received from her many customers.Eva was the last of her generation. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, her sons: Louis and Eugene Jr.; a grandson, Mark Johnson; and all seven of her siblings.She is survived by her daughter, Pauline Johnson; daughter-in-law, Yvette Bernard; grandchildren: Daniel Bernard, Patricia Hinson, and Stephen Johnson; seven great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.A special thanks to Curlew Care ALF who cared for her with so much love in the last years of her life. The family wishes to send a very special thank you to her niece, Joanne Hilder, who spent so many hours taking Eva to the beauty shop and getting her special treats. She is an angel!A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 24 at 9:30AM at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church. An hour of visitation will begin at 8:30AM until the time of the funeral at the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter Street, Sanford. Burial will follow at St. Ignatius Cemetery next to her beloved Gene and her two sons. Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com