Jean P. Bernard

Jean P. Bernard, 84, of Forest St., died on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at the Clinton Hospital after being stricken ill.

He is survived by his beloved wife of sixty two years, Loretta (Dubois) Bernard; three sons, Gerard P. Bernard and his wife Jessie of Jaffrey, NH; Fred J. Bernard and his wife Suzanne of Fitchburg; and Edward R. Bernard and his wife Rhonda of Clinton; five daughters, Jeannette Jatrinski and her husband Ronald of FL; Madeleine Wheeler and her husband Brian of Gardner; Ann Hughes also of Gardner; Adele Doyle and her husband Robert of Clinton; and Cecile Patricks and her husband Ronald of FL. He leaves twenty five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, a daughter-in-law Suzanne Bernard of Winchendon; two brothers-in-law, Robert Chaisson of Wells, ME; and Richard Dubois of Rumford, ME; numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his son, Raymond Bernard, son-in-law, Barry Hughes, eleven brothers and sisters, Roger, Roland, Emile, Joseph, and Ferdinand Bernard, Jane Angers, Juliette Doiron, Rose Leblanc, Lucy Tardiff, Monique Chaisson, and Blanche Bernard, and two grandchildren, Philip and Kimberly Bernard.

Jean was born in Limerick, Maine to the late Octave and Marie (Angers) Bernard, and was raised in Springvale.  He attended local schools and began employment at a young age as a welder in the Portland Ship Yard. He proudly enlisted to serve our country in the Army Air Corps during WWII, and was stationed in the South Pacific.  Upon his return, Jean began employment with the Sanford Mills in Maine, prior to relocating his family to Clinton in 1954.  He worked at the former Colonial Press in Clinton for more than twenty years until its closing. Later he was employed in maintenance for the Lancaster School System, before ultimately retiring from the same position held at Ft. Devens. Jean was a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Church in Clinton. He was a dedicated member and Past Commander of the Clinton VFW, and held membership with the American Legion Post 50.

Funeral services are to be held on Monday, December 15, 2008 from the Philbin-Comeau Funeral Home, 176 Water St., Clinton, with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11AM in St. John the Evangelist Church, 80 Union St., Clinton. Burial is to follow at St. John Cemetery in Lancaster. Calling hours will be held in the funeral home on Sunday, December 14, 2008 from 2 until 5 PM. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Jean Bernard to St. John the Evangelist Church-Restoration Fund-149 Chestnut St., Clinton, MA 01510. Online condolences may be placed at

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