John C. Bernier

John Claude Bernier, 87, passed away on April 9th, 2025 at his home in Kensington, NH with his wife and two of his daughters by his side. John was born on October 5, 1937. He was a proud, passionate, hard-working businessman and liked to joke that he was a graduate of The School of Hard Knocks. He navigated heart disease with purpose, kidney disease like a professional, and lastly, Merkel Cell Carcinoma. He fought courageously and selflessly as anyone that knew him would expect.
John met the love of his life as she was coming down the post office steps. He said to his cousin Pee-Wee, "I'm going to marry that girl" And that he did. He and Jane were happily married for 64 years and raised a beautiful family of five together.
John loved his family fiercely. However, it was his love for his work that kept him going all the way to the end. He started his company Bernier Corporation in 1957 and worked tirelessly until the end. He lived and breathed Bernier Corp. He built the business with his son Chris, and they worked side by side as partners and friends until Chris' death in 1998. An event that left a hole in his life. After that, his youngest son Jeremy came into the business and, alongside his daughter Julie, helped propel the business to what it is today.
As a proud Navy veteran, he was disciplined after admitting that his mother had neatly washed and pressed his uniforms before coming back from leave. This event could be said to have contributed to the "clean gene" that his family joked that he had. During his time in the Navy, he was proud to have been involved in Operation Hardtack-a series of nuclear tests conducted by the United States in several places including Enewetak where he was involved.
John Bernier cannot be summed up in short. Hard-working, neat and tidy, intuitive, patriotic, passionate, he always wanted the best for others. Known to start stories with the phrase, "true story" as if to imply that it could be anything but. John enjoyed watching movies in his home theater, fine food, cleaning, building, and he never met a challenge less than full on. He loved Coca-Cola in little glass bottles, Pelligrino, lobster, fluffy chowder, good cheese, butter, Hawaii, tall tales, colorful language, and the lottery. He was proud of his 50 plus years of sobriety, but he did not like sports. If you were ever looking for John, he was likely at the job site or the office. Both places were considered his sanctuaries. This writing will not do him justice, but those who knew him even a little will be able to fill in the blanks.
Aside from his parents, John was predeceased by his son John Christopher Bernier; and two sisters, Nancy Baron and Aline Dube. He is survived by his loving wife Jane S. Bernier of Kensington, NH; one son, Jeremy Bernier of Epping, NH and his companion Katy Dresnok; three daughters, Jennifer Morrison and her husband Jim of Pickens, SC; Julie McCown and her husband Sean of Newmarket, NH; and Danielle Moreno and her husband Jaime of Middlebury, IN; and one brother, Ronald J. Bernier of Exeter, NH. He was also Papa to 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Quick to tear when moved by something that touched his heart, he was otherwise a rock, standing firm as the pillar of the family. Appropriate, as he was a builder at the very core of his soul. A proud Republican, a successful businessman, a loving husband, a giving brother, and a father who taught his children about hard work, integrity, and so much more. He always said that life is what you make it; work hard, play hard, and live a good life. John will surely be missed but never forgotten. The job is finally finished, we'll take it from here.
John's arrangements will be made by Brewitt's Funeral Home in Exeter.
A time of sharing at his celebration of life will begin at 1:00 PM on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at the Rockingham Ballroom, 22 Ash Swamp Rd., Newmarket, NH.
Private interment will be in the Exeter Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Vincent De Paul Society or Rockingham VNA.