Obituary of Marie Thérèse Bernier
August 12, 1923 - January 6, 2024
Mom, Thérèse (Baribeau) Bernier was born on August 12, 1923, at hospital point in Wakaw, SK. and passed away at the Mont St Joseph Home in Prince Albert, SK on January 6, 2024, at the age of 100. She grew up in Domremy. Her parents were Hormisdas and Julia (Germain) Baribeau. She had 11 siblings; Greg, Francoise (Jobin), Gertrude (Parent), Alice (Prefontaine/Bernier), Felix, Jeanne “Kiki” (Kuppenbender), Leo (who died in the war), Rita (Georget), Andre, Susie and the eldest sister, Simone, who died in infancy but was never forgotten.
Even though mom enjoyed going to school and learning, her schooling ended with grade 8 as she was needed on the family run switchboard (she had been helping out since the age of 10). Mom became the main telephone switchboard operator at the age of 13 when her sister, Alice, left to be married. Her mom, Julia, helped a lot as did her brother Felix when he had days off. Many acquaintances were made and never forgotten because of those years on the Domremy switchboard.
Mom’s switchboard years is where she learned to perfect her knitting and other needlework not the least of which included many articles of clothing (socks, balaclavas) made to send the men overseas as these years included the years spanning WWII.
Eventually, as she would often recount, in order to get off of the switchboard, she married dad, Nap Bernier on July 8, 1946. Mom became a farm wife, and though the work changed, it certainly did not diminish. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.... and even more family as dad too had many siblings; Delima (Dupuis), Noe, Onezime (who eventually married her sister Alice), Isidore, Antoinette “Tony” (who married her brother Felix), Agna (Davidson), Raymond, and Emile. His parents were Alvida and Antoinette (Lefebvre) Bernier. Dad died on August 13, 1978. We are so fortunate that mom stayed around for the next 45 + years.
Mom stayed on the farm until 1979 and then moved to Hoey. She moved to Prince Albert in 2000.
Mom was predeceased by the entire Baribeau and Bernier families mentioned above and all of their spouses. She was the last of that generation.
Left to mourn her passing but especially to celebrate her life are her three children BERNIE (Marie) and their boys Michel (Michelle) and Marcel (Crystal); GERRY (Cathy) and their girls Alexe and Lee (Eric) and LOUISE and her kids Brock (Kayleigh), Derek (Nancy) and Lisa (Kevin Ostafie) Skomorowski.
Her grandkids are what kept her going. To them, she was Mémé. Cookies were made, crosswords were done, trips to McDonalds were numerous, “méméisms” are well known and will never be forgotten.
Mom was smart (we all knew not to argue with her, as we were always proven wrong), funny (very quick with the comebacks with just the right amount of sarcasm thrown in) and had oodles of common sense.
Mom, you have welcomed us, supported us, and I’m not sure how but made us all feel special each in our own way.
Thank you so much!
Mom is also survived by 6 great grandchildren - Brady and Emery (Michel), Austin and Ryder (Marcel) and Jude and Linus (Brock).
Mom missed her family dearly, asked for her sisters and especially her mom often. We have to believe that she is back with them now.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 12, 2024, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 1401 4th Avenue West, Prince Albert, SK. Please join us.
Any donations in mom’s memory should be made to the Domremy Cemetery Fund, Box 70, Domremy SK, S0K 1G0 or to the CWL Thrift Shop, Sacred Heart Cathedral (address above) S6V 5H1
Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Lorne Adams, Funeral Director, Prince Albert, SK 306-763-3322
