Bernadette (Donavon) Santerre

Passed away peacefully embraced by family at the Campbellton Regional Hospital, Campbellton N.B., on the Spring afternoon of June 16th, 2019 at the age of 91, Mrs. Bernadette (Donavon) Santerre of Campbellton, wife to Roger Santerre (deceased July 2017).

She was born and raised a single child in the township of Nelson on the Miramichi River, N.B. on November 10th, 1927, daughter of the late John Donavon and the late Bernetta (Hetherington) Donavon.

In her early youth Bernadette (Donavon) Santerre studied and graduated from Normal School (Teachers College), and then worked in several public school districts in the Miramichi-Bathurst area before being drawn to the shores of Campbellton, falling in love with the beauty of the Restigouche, embraced by its Chaleur bay skyline and the magnificence of the Sugarloaf mountain. She taught at many schools in the Campbellton area (King St., Andrew St. and Beaverbrook St. to name a few). She never shied away from the challenges of life and took the world full on with no goal being insurmountable. Her final teaching assignment as a science and math teacher at the Campbellton Junior High School was a testament to her sharp mind and recognition that the world was created as a place to discover.

Despite her Irish roots and never fully mastering the french language, Bernadette was a champion of bilingualism in the Campbellton schools, community and public venues, demonstrating to her own children the importance of tolerance and love of one’s neighbour regardless of race, religion, or language. She will be remembered for her love of travel, camping and cultural curiosity, which spanned all of north America, from the beaches of Acapulco Mexico to the shores of the MacKenzie River in the North West Territories of Canada. When her and Roger could no longer travel to those exotic locations in their later years, she kept the flames for discovery and travel alive in her mind with her passion for reading, which kept her imagination sharp right up to her passing, as will attest her youngest grandchild, who was still playing cards with her right up to a few weeks before her passing. She will always be remembered for her tremendous religious faith and her most famed life lesson, “No matter how bad life seems for you, someone in the world is much worse off, so be thankful for what you have and embrace what life gives you.”

Bernadette is survived by her cherished children and their families; her daughter Mary-Theresa (Santerre) (and Jean) Mainville of Ottawa, ON; and 3 sons; Jack (Kathy) of North Bay, ON, Paul (Shelley) of Toronto, ON, Raymond (Pauline) of Campbellton, N.B.; 9 grandchildren, Jennifer (Tim) Santerre-Smith, Michael (Josée), Eric (Isabelle), François (Véronik), Meagan (Michael), Kelsey, Ali, Jolène and Thomas (Annie); and 7 great-grandchildren, Courtney, Marc, Kaden, Julianna, Jackson, Vincent and Remy; her sister-in-laws Marthe Blanchet and Joan Santerre; and many nieces and nephews. Bernadette was predeceased by her husband Roger, and son, Marc Santerre.

The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas, 43 Andrew Street, Campbellton, on Thursday, July 11th, 2019 at 11:00 am followed by the committal service at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery.

Visitation at Maher's Funeral Home, 33 Lansdowne St., Campbellton, Wednesday, July 10th from 7-9 pm and Thursday, July 11th from 10:00-10:40 am prior to funeral.

Donations to a charity of the Donor’s Choice would be appreciated by the family in lieu of flowers.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of Maher’s Funeral Home, Campbellton.

(506)789-1699 or toll free (855) 404-1699 email: [email protected]

Website: www.maherfuneralhomes.com

_________________________________________________________________________________

Décédée paisiblement, entourée de membres de sa famille à l’Hôpital Régional de Campbellton, N.B., le 16 juin 2019 à l'âge de 91 ans, Mme Bernadette (Donavon) SANTERRE de Campbellton, épouse de feu Roger Santerre.

Née à Chatham Miramichi le 10 novembre 1927, fille de feu John Allan Donavon et feu Bernetta Hetherington.

Durant sa jeunesse, Bernadette a étudié et obtenue son diplôme de “L’École Normale’’( Teachers College). Au début de sa carrière, elle travailla dans plusieurs districts scolaires de la région de Miramichi-Bathurst. Par la suite, elle a enseigné dans plusieurs écoles de la région de Campbellton (rue King, rue Andrew et rue Beaverbrook et bien d’autres). Malgré ses racines Irlandaises, elle n’a jamais bien maîtrisé le français parfaitement. Cependant, Bernadette était une championne du bilinguisme démontrant à ses propres enfants l'importance de la tolérance et de l'amour du prochain, sans distinction de race, de religion ou de langue. On se souviendra de son amour pour sa famille, ses ambitions de voyager, faire du camping, sa passion pour la lecture, jouer aux cartes, sa forte foi religieuse et l’importance de prier. Sa leçon de vie la plus célèbre : « Peu importe à quel point la vie vous semble difficile, quelqu'un d’autre dans le monde est bien pire, alors soyez reconnaissant pour ce que vous avez et profitez de ce que la vie vous donne ». Elle a su surmonter bien des défis durant sa vie et a prouvé qu’il n’y a rien d’insurmontable.

Bernadette laisse dans le deuil; Sa fille Mary-Theresa (Santerre) (et Jean) Mainville d'Ottawa, ON; Et 3 fils; Jack (Kathy) de North Bay, ON, Paul (Shelley) de Toronto, ON, Raymond (Pauline) de Campbellton, N.B .; 8 petits-enfants, Jennifer (Tim) Santerre-Smith, Michael (Josée), Éric (Isabelle), François (Véronik), Meagan (Michael), Kelsey, Jolène et Thomas (Annie); Et 7 arrière-arrière-enfants, Courtney, Marc, Kaden, Julianna, Jackson, Vincent et Rémy; belle-sœur Marthe Blanchette et Joan Santerre, beaucoup de nièces et de neveux. Outre ses parents, Bernadette a été prédécédé par son fils Marc Santerre et son mari, Roger Santerre.

Une messe funèbre se tiendra à l’église St-Thomas d’Aquin Campbellton, le 11 juillet à 11h00 suivie d’une cérémonie de mise en terre au cimetière Notre Dame des Neiges.

Visites auront lieu le mercredi 10 juillet de 19h00 à 21h00 et le 11 juillet de 10h00 à 10h40 avant l’heure des funérailles.

Au lieu de fleurs, un don à un organisme de bienfaisance au choix du donneur serait apprécié par la famille.

Les arrangements funéraires ont été confiés aux soins du Salon Funéraire Maher de Campbellton.

(506)789-1699 ou sans frais (855) 404-1699 courriel: [email protected]

Site Web: www.maherfuneralhomes.com