Born in Rumford, Rhode Island, a daughter of the late Bernard J. and Helena V. (Kelley) McCusker, she was a graduate of Bayview Academy class of 1947, received her Bachelors Degree from Catholic Teachers College in 1956 and earned her Masters of Education from Rhode Island College in 1969.
Ms. McCusker was a teacher in the Rhode Island Catholic School System for 21 years before becoming a teacher in the Fall River Public School System for 24 years. She taught at St. Mary’s in Newport, Rhode Island; St. Joseph in Pascoag, Rhode Island and Holy Ghost in Federal Hill, Providence Rhode Island. Bern also taught at Taylor in South Providence, Ralph M. Small in Fall River, Massachusetts and was a reading specialist at Brayton Avenue School.
It was in 1960, at Holy Ghost Convent where she met her best friend and constant companion, Leona Shea when Lee asked her “Can I help you?” Bern answered with “Sure, kid.”, and a lifelong sisterhood was formed.
Bern volunteered for many years at Clifton Nursing Home and Clifton Assisted Living, leading prayer groups and as a Eucharistic Minister. She and Lee were also known to dress as leprechauns and break into song and dance.
She was a communicant of St. Thomas More Church in Somerset.
Bernice is survived by longtime companion and friend, Leona G. Shea of Somerset; her Godson, Nicholas Thibault; her niece, Helena Mayrose and her nephew, Leonard McCusker. She was beloved by her good friends, Bruce and Denise Beaulieu. She also was loved by Leona’s family who considered her their cousin and will be missed by Kathleen Gunning and her partner Greg Ruest; Elaine Thibault and her husband Len; Patricia Albin and her husband Jack; Stephen Roy and his wife Linda; Donald Roy and his wife Debra; Michael Roy and his partner Deb Devlin; the next two generations of cousins and many close friends. She was the sister of the late James F. and John J. McCusker.
Her Funeral will be held on Friday, July 20, 2018 at 9:00AM from the Waring-Sullivan Home at Birchcrest, 189 Gardners Neck Rd., Swansea followed by her Funeral Mass at 10:00AM in St. Thomas More Church, 386 Luther Ave., Somerset. Visiting hours will be Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00PM. Burial will take place in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Fall River.
