KETCHIKAN, Alaska — M. Theresa (Terry) C. Bernier, 77, of Ketchikan, Alaska, formerly of Topsham, Maine, died unexpectedly on May 13, 2015. She was born on Jan. 2, 1938, the daughter of Octave and Clementine (Fortin) Caron in Lille, Maine.

At the age of six, the family moved to Auburn, Maine, where she attended school, graduating class of 1955. She then furthered her education at Gorham State Teachers College, where she earned her teaching degree in 1960. She later received her master’s degree in early childhood education.

She taught at Lisbon Elementary, Harpswell Island School and St. John’s Catholic School. She made a lasting impression on many of her students and was herself a perpetual student.

In college she began letter writing a soldier from Maine stationed on Guam. On July 14, 1962, she married that soldier, John B. Bernier Jr. in a double wedding ceremony alongside her sister Gemma. They were married 45 years until John’s passing in 2007.

They made their home in Topsham, Maine and built a “camp” on Orr’s Island, Maine. They raised three children into a strong and loving family. In 1984, the opportunity arose and they moved to Ketchikan, Alaska, where they resided the remainder of their days.

For the past 20 years plus, she would return “home” to Maine for a few months each year to visit with family and friends and to simply enjoy the fruits of their labors, her “Rain bird Retreat” on Orr’s Island.

While in Ketchikan she returned to school at the University of Alaska, Southeast, where she earned her degree in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. She worked as a night auditor at Salmon Falls resort; as sales associate at the Trading Post & Tom Sawyers; Totem Candy as secretary, Ketchikan General Hospital in Patient Accounts and Ketchikan Assembly of God Church as a secretary for several years.

She was an active member of the Assemblies of God Church in Ketchikan for over 30 years serving several terms as a church Deacon, on the church board, membership committee, missions committee and youth ministry.

She enjoyed singing, knitting and crocheting, and scrapbooking, was an avid reader, playing games on her

Kindle with her sisters and spending time with her family, especially her grand and great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her parents, Octave and Clementine Caron; brothers, Octave (Aline) Caron Jr., Clifford Caron, Patrick Caron; sisters, Henriette (Eugene) Audet, Gemma (Dick) Boutin and her beloved husband, John B. Bernier Jr.

She is survived by her three children, Rebecca (Becky) Bernier-Farlow of Ketchikan, Alaska, Celeste (Miguel) Lopez of Juneau, Alaska, and John (Dawn) B. Bernier III of Topsham, Maine; granddaughters, Rebecca and Jonika both of Juneau, Alaska, Elizabeth (Liz) of Topsham, Katherine (Kat) Bernier of Bowdoinham, Maine, Briana Lopez of Juneau, Alaska and Alannah Bernier Farlow of Ketchikan, Alaska; greatgrandchildren, Isaiah, Christian and Micah Nelson, Reagan and Carter Talatoa, Brodie Bernier and Sawyer Thompson, all of Juneau, AK; sisters, Rena (Roland) St. Amour, Mariette (Andre’) Pare’ of Lewiston, Maine, Claire (Lou) Pelletier of Roseville, California, and Anne (Roy) Caron of Hartford, Connecticut; brother-inlaw, Adrien Bernier of Topsham, Maine; sister-in-law, Muriel Bernier; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and many lifelong, cherished friends.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2015, from noon to 2 p.m. at Demers-Desmond Funeral Home, 34 Cushing St., Brunswick, Maine. Followed by a funeral service at 2:30 to be held at the Pathways Vineyard Church, Pleasant Street, Brunswick, Maine. Interment will be held on Thursday, June 11, 2015, at 10 a.m. at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Mt. Vernon Road, Augusta, Maine.

To share your thoughts and condolences with the family, please visit www.desmondfuneralhomes.com.