J. Edgar “Eddie” Bernard
RUMFORD – J. Edgar “Eddie” Bernard, 92. of South Rumford, died suddenly Monday Feb. 21, 2022 at Rumford Hospital. He was a middle child, the first to be born at the farm in So. Rumford, August 15, 1929, to Eugene and Delia Boudreau Bernard.
He attended Stephens High School in Rumford and graduated from St Francis in Biddeford class of 1947. In 1948/49 he enlisted in the army and served one year, In 1950/51 he was called in from the Army Reserves to serve in the Korean War.
Eddie worked for his father lumbering throughout high school and then worked in Logging with his brother Pete. In 1960 he went into Oxford Paper Co. and retired from the Utilities department in ’92. Many and the most enjoyable of those years were at the Rumford Falls Power Co.
Eddie also cultivated and sold Christmas trees for many years. Eddie loved horses and owned many in his lifetime, always sharing his passion with his children, nieces and nephews. Throughout his working days, he was well known as a blacksmith and shoed horses for many of the local horse owners in the area. Later in life, he traded that horse power to owning a Can Am Spyder, and rode as many miles as a day would allow for the last 10 years of his life.
A devout Catholic, he was a member of the Parish of the Holy Savior, was active in the Acadian Society for many years (known for making “poutins” in the community) and the Knights of Columbus. He spent many summers traveling to Atlantic Canada. He was the last of 10 siblings from a very tight knit family who he loved dearly.
On June 27, 1953 he married Dorothy Martin of Mexico Maine. They celebrated 58 years before her death. They had three children and built a home on the land he was born in So. Rumford, where he lived for his entire life. He was blessed to be able to live independently in his home until the day he died. The family is thankful for all those who looked out for Dad-Papa the last years of his life; his neighbors, The Rumford VA office, and his special friends whom he could count on for rides and assistance.
He is survived by his daughter, Sara Perry and her husband Larry of Rumford, a son Eric and companion Belinda Hutchinson of Westbrook; a grandson Oliver Perry and wife Ashley of Turner; a sister-in-law Alice Ceranowicz of Florida; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Dorothy; a son Steven; sisters Doris Carr, Luetta Thibodeau, Martha Fournier, Sr. Gloria Bernard, Therese Bourret and brothers Omer, Olin, Louis (Pete) and Joe (Babe).
Friends and family are invited to sign the online guest book and share memories with the family at http://www.meaderandson.com.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on June 11, 2022 at 10 a.m. at the Parish of the Holy Savior, St Athanasius St John Church, 126 Maine Ave., Rumford. Interment with military honors will follow at St John Cemetery, Rumford. Arrangements are under the direction of the Meader & Son Funeral Home 3 Franklin St Rumford, ME
In lieu of flowers donate to:
the Rumford American
Legion Post 24
184 Congress St.
Rumford, ME 04276
in his name