William Bernier

William H. Bernier, 55, died September 12, 2019 at Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC.

Born on September 14, 1963 in Framingham, MA, he was the son of Madelaine Bennett Wright and the late William G. Bernier.

William was a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Deena Indelicato Bernier; one son, William T. Bernier; one daughter, Heidi K. Lynch and her husband, Ryan; one sister, Barsha MacDonald and her husband, William; sister-in-law, Kathleen Cote and her husband, Ted; brother-in-law, Anthony Indelicato and his wife, Bina; sister-in-law, Jennie Morgan and her husband, Jon; and many nieces and nephews. He loved them all and will be greatly missed.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 am on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Inurnment will follow in the church columbarium niche.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach, P.O. Box 3362, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582.

A guestbook is available at www.leefhandcrematory.com.

Lee Funeral Home & Crematory of Little River/North Myrtle Beach is serving the family.

The following is provided by his loving wife, Deena.

Bill was a lung transplant recipient, so he really understood how precious life is. He lived each day to its fullest, enjoying every minute. He loved his family dearly, and was especially proud of our children. Walking Heidi down the aisle to marry her soulmate and making a speech at her wedding last year was definitely a highlight. Watching Billy buy and maintain his own house was another source of pride for him. He loved to tell people that his boy owns his own house. “He did it by himself at only 25 years old”, he’d say.

Bill and I were inseparable for the past 10 years, spending every possible moment together. We travelled across the United States several times, visiting as many National Parks as possible along the way.

Even Bill’s doctors loved him. One even went so far as to put Bill in a hyperbaric chamber to see what altitude was safe for Bill before we went to Utah. He gave him strict instructions to stay below 10,000 feet. I have a picture of him on our first day out there with a HUGE smile on his face standing next to an altitude sign that read 12,000 feet. You couldn’t tell Bill he was unable to do something; he would just prove you wrong.

The last 70 days weren’t easy for Bill. He was tasked with recovering from a heart attack and stroke that at one point took all of his movement from him. All he could do to communicate with me at this time was blink. I made a sign and pointed to words for him – sad, mad, pain – when I pointed to happy he enthusiastically nodded his head yes. He surpassed every expectation placed on him, all the while with that same smile on his face. The nurses fought to be on his service, loving the positivity that radiated from him. He LOVED when they told him he looked like Liam Neeson; it made his smile just a little brighter each time. When he was discharged to rehab, every member of the staff lined the walls and cheered as he passed by them onto his next adventure.

He was so proud of his job cleaning this church. He’d get up bright and early Saturday morning and give it his all every week. He joked that it didn’t pay much but the benefits were well worth it. When the kids were little he taught CCD, loving to share his religion with the next generation. That’s just who he was. Always happy and hopeful. Willing and wanting to lend a hand to anyone and everyone.