Bernice Claire Deignan

Our mother, Bernice Claire Deignan, died peacefully in her Chatham home on June 22nd 2025. Bernice, Bern, Mom, Nana and sometimes Beatrice was 10 days away from her 95th birthday. 

She was born to the late Walter and Pearl (Callan) Kane on July 2, 1930 in Somerville, MA. She was the oldest of four children. She graduated from Arlington High School and continued her education at Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. Bernice lived for many years in Woburn, MA and then Chatham, MA for 44 years since 1981. Most of those years were with her husband James (Jim) Deignan. Together Bern and Jim had three children, seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.  Bern was predeceased by her husband, James (Jim), her siblings, Walter Kane, Phyllis O’Connor and Judy Kane. 

She is survived by her three loving children: Jeanne Deignan-Kosmides and husband, George Kosmides, Laura Caufield and husband, Patrick Caufield, and James Deignan Jr and wife Sheri Deignan. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren: Jonathan Caufield, Amanda Deignan, Ariana Kosmides and husband Drew Goldsman, Katherine Foster and husband Jared Foster, Lindsey Deignan and husband Zongda Huang, Justin Kosmides, Joanna Parker and husband Mathew Parker. She is also survived by her nine great grandchildren: Odin, Amaya, Nora, Kalista, Wren, Gwen, Dexter, Sophia and Benson. 

Bernice loved to work and had a wide variety of jobs over her lifetime including Eastern Tool Warehouse, MIT, Stop and Shop, Soft as a Grape, and her favorite job working at Eldredge Public Library in Chatham. Bern loved to have family visit and there was always a seat at the table to enjoy her delicious meals. 

Bern had a special place in her heart for dogs. Bern was an avid reader.  One could often find her sitting with a book or newspaper.  Bern was an expert with crossword puzzles and Scrabble. Once she wrote her own crossword puzzle dictionary. Bern also traveled widely and lived in her Sarasota condo or in Aruba during the colder months of the year. 

We will hold a Funeral/Memorial/Celebration of her life on Friday September 5, 2025. The funeral arrangements are:

11:30 am – funeral mass at St. Elizabeth’s Church, Falmouth, MA

1:15 pm - cemetery ceremony at the National Cemetery Bourne, MA  (Please arrive at 1 pm to line up for the procession)

2:00 pm – reception at Towne Tavern Wareham, MA. All are Welcome. 

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Eldredge Public Library Chatham, MA (www.Eldredgelibrary.org to donate).

May her memory be eternal.