Rumford – F. Marie Bernard, 90, of Chase Avenue, Mexico, died early Sunday morning, March 29, with her loving family at her side at the Rumford Hospital, where she had been a patient for five weeks.

She was born in Dixfield on March 19, 1919, the daughter of George W. Brown and Bernice (Flagg) Brown and was a graduate of Dixfield High School, class of 1937. She was married to Andrew (Gump) Bernard on May 18, 1940, at Saint Athanasius Church in Rumford. He predeceased her on July 19, 1980.

Marie was employed for several years with Berst Foster in West Peru, and at St. Theresa’s Rectory in Mexico.

She was a communicant of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church (Parish of the Holy Savior), a member of St. Theresa’s Guild, and former member of Daughters of Isabella.

Marie was an ardent Red Sox fan, she enjoyed knitting, oil painting, cross-country skiing, berry picking and bird watching.

She is survived by her six children, William A. (Bill) Bernard and wife Donna, of Andover, Ronald E. (Ron) Bernard and his companion, Wendy Lindberg, of Rumford, Dennis G. Bernard and wife Marilyn, of Waterbury, Conn., Andrea M. Gurney and companion Fred Harlow, of Mexico, Patricia A. Flynn and husband, Philip, of Franklin, Mass., and John G. Bernard and wife Andrea, of Rumford; 30 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; several great-great grandchildren; two sisters, Connie Tutlis of Rumford and Eileen Gallant of Bangor; brother-in-law, Robert Bernard of Rumford, brother-in-law Albert Spaulding of Dixfield; sister-in-law Annie Young, and sister-in-law Virginia Kelly and her husband, Norman, of Canton.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Andrew Joseph Bernard; two grandchildren, Susan and Andrew Bernard; six siblings, Eleanor and Alfreda Brown, George Brown, Annie Spaulding, Phyllis Dwinal and Staples Brown; and a son-in-law, Dwight Gurney.

The family would like to offer special thanks to Dr. Jacob Ledesma and the staff at Rumford Hospital for the wonderful care given to Marie.

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