DOVER, N.H. – Bertha Mary Theriault, 71, of Orchard Farms Road, York, died Friday, July 22, at Wentworth- Douglass Hospital in Dover, N.H.

She was born in Rumford on June 13, 1934, daughter of Elphege and Gertrude (Poirier) Theriault and graduated from Stephens High School in Rumford.

For 30 years, she was a telephone operator for New England Tel & Tel, spending five years in the Rumford offices and 25 years in the Boston area offices.

After her retirement, she and her longtime partner, Sue Genthner, moved to York in 1991. They had been visiting the seacoast of Maine for many years, while living in Boston.

Bertha came from a large family of eight brothers and sisters, and loved spending as much time as possible with all of them. She loved each one dearly and especially enjoyed spending time with the younger family members, her nieces and nephews.

She enjoyed bowling, music and traveling.

She was a communicant of St. Christopher Church in York.

Survivors include two brothers, Jeffrey Theriault of Rumford, and Norman and Iris Theriault of Sanford; three sisters, Theresa Vaillancourt of Mexico, Rita and Keith Morton of Shelton, Conn., and Pauline Roberge of Nashua, N.H.; a sister-in-law, Linda Theriault of Peabody, Mass.; a brother-in-law, Roland Bourgea of Malden, Mass; her longtime partner, Sue Genthner, of York; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

She was predeceased by her brother, Frank Theriault, who died in 1985; and by a sister, Alfreda Bourgea, who died in 2001.

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