FORT FAIRFIELD – Sylvia (Russell) Bernard, 90, wife of the late Wilfred J. Bernard, passed away Wednesday morning, Jan. 21, 2009, at a Presque Isle nursing facility, after an extended illness. She was born Sept. 29, 1918, in Tinker, New Brunswick, the daughter of Arthur Russell and Mae Jensen Russell (Achorn). She graduated from Fort Fairfield High School as secretary/treasurer in 1935. In March of that year, she was crowned Queen of the Winter Carnival. She was married to Wilfred J. Bernard, April 26, 1943. Sylvia was a successful longtime business owner and operated The Smart Hat Shoppe, Main Street, Fort Fairfield, for decades before selling and retiring in the mid-1970s. Sylvia enjoyed flower gardening, refinishing old furniture, doing word jumble puzzles and crocheting. She was a terrific cook who loved having her family and friends around her table. No one went away hungry! Sylvia also had a great love of the Christmas season and took great pains in decorating and cooking special goodies at that time of year. She was very generous and supported various causes throughout her lifetime with time, talent and treasure. She worked diligently on many class reunions and was a supporter of Denis School Society and worked very hard raising money for this cause. She was a communicant of St. Denis Catholic Church, Fort Fairfield. She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Wilfred J. Bernard, in 1993; her parents, Mae Jensen Russell Achorn and Arthur Russell; her stepfather, Ersy Achorn; four brothers, Frank and George Nelson, Lester and Gary Achorn; and half sister, Merinda Schwartz. She is survived by three daughters, Jean E. Brisson and her husband, Richard, of New Bedford, Mass., and The Villages, Fla., Elaine Cummings and her husband, Ronald, of Brewer and The Villages, Fla., and Catherine Bernard and her husband, Rick Thompson, of Fort Fairfield; five granddaughters, Stacy Johnson of Fort Fairfield, Amy Johnson and her husband, Tim McCrum, of Bangor, Melanie Terrell and her husband, Guy, of Greensboro, N.C., Brianne Bubar of Fort Fairfield, and Shannon Cummings of La Jolla, Calif.; one great-granddaughter, Logan Leavitt of Fort Fairfield; two sisters, Olive Griffeth of Fort Fairfield and Van Buren, and Irene Hill of Marathon, N.Y.; one special sister-in-law, Doris Bernard of Presque Isle; several nieces and nephews. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, 144 Main St., Fort Fairfield, where a vigil service will be conducted 7:30 p.m. by the Rev. Jean-Paul Labrie. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at St. Denis Catholic Church, 143 Main St., Fort Fairfield, with the Rev. Jean-Paul Labrie, celebrant. Interment will take place later in the spring at St. Denis Catholic Cemetery, Fort Fairfield. A time of continued fellowship with refreshments will be held immediately after the funeral Mass at VFW Paul Lockhart Post No. 6187, Presque Isle Street, Fort Fairfield. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may contribute in memory of Mrs. Bernard to Fort Fairfield Alumni Association, P.O. Box 201, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742 or the charity or organization of one’s choice. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
SYLVIA (RUSSELL) BERNARD
