PORT SAINT LUCIE, Fla. – Marie B. Hernandez, formerly of Bath, died on August 29, 2019, at age 91.

Marie was born on Sept. 18, 1927, in France. At age 7, she migrated with her family from France to Cuba.  Her parents established a coffee factory in Ciego de Avila, Cuba and Marie and her four brothers were involved in various aspects of the business.

Marie received her PhD. in education from the University in Havana and proceeded to teach languages at the local high school in her town.  Marie met her husband, Ruben Hernandez, and they married in 1947, and two sons, Ruben and Roland, were born in Cuba.  In 1962, due to oppressive political regime change, the family fled to United States, eventually landing jobs and housing at the Goodwill Hinkley School in Hinkley, Maine.  Marie taught languages at Goodwill Hinkley and then at Warsaw High School in Pittsfield, and eventually moved to Bath.  Marie and Ruben Sr. had another son, Robert, and Marie finished her distinguished teaching career at the Bath Junior High School, retiring in 1989.

After retirement, Marie and her husband moved to Port Saint Lucie, Fla. She enjoyed hosting family for holidays in the warm weather, swimming in her pool, shopping, and knitting. She, along with her husband, volunteered with the Port Saint Lucie Police Department to create a comprehensive training program to educate the local police officers in Spanish.

Following the death of her husband in 2003, Marie kept their home for as long as she could, eventually moving to an assisted living facility for the last five years of her life. Within that community, she was regarded for her varied background and her stories always kept her new friends entertained.

Family was the most important thing to Marie. She enjoyed the company of her seven grandchildren and was grateful for the opportunity to meet and spend time with her great-grandchildren. She was extremely proud that her third great-grandchild’s middle name was given in her honor.

Marie was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Ruben D.F. Hernandez in 2003 and her son Roland Hernandez in 2013.

Marie is survived by her sons Ruben Hernandez and his wife Candy of Bath and Robert Hernandez of Middletown, Del.; grandsons Jack Hernandez and his wife Kamron of Bath, Joe Hernandez and his wife Maggie of Massachusetts, Jon-Erik Hernandez of Texas, Alexys Hernandez of Massachusetts, Marc Hernandez of Massachusetts, Samuel Hernandez of Pennsylvania, granddaughter Marcy Hernandez of Westbrook; and great-granddaughters Lucille Grace Hernandez of Bath, Grace Elizabeth Hernandez of Massachusetts, and Isabel Marie Hernandez of Massachusetts.

A celebration of Marie’s life will be held in the spring at Mount Hope Cemetery in Lewiston.

Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in Marie’s name are

encouraged to donate to:

Dean Snell