Obituary for Paul Bernier
Paul ‘Doc’ Rolland Bernier
Oct. 25, 1920 - Jan. 31, 2023
Doc was born in Chapleau, Ontario to Arthur Bernier and Zita Mayer. Predeceased by siblings: Harry, Jules, Charles, Albert, Katharine (Kay), Alice, Jacqueline (Jackie), Maurice; survived by his sister Helen. At two years old, as Doc was about to fall backwards out of a hospital window, a nurse, alerted by his mother, grabbed him by the foot and pulled him safely inside. Doc was always lucky, and he knew it. The family moved to Oshawa when he was seven, where he organized a group of kids to collect pop bottles, which he counted, turned in for the returns and distributed the profits to his ‘employees’. When he was 10, the family moved to Sudbury, where he would live the rest of his life. He joined the ‘Donovan’ gang of kids, and they gave him his nickname, ‘Doc’, after Al Capone’s right-hand man - a name that would stick with him forever. After his schooling years at St. Louis de Gonzague and Sudbury Tech, at 19, he volunteered for the Air Force, trained as a pilot, and was stationed in England, flying Spitfires for the RAF, then RCAF, for the duration of World War II. Returning home, he first worked as a men’s clothing salesman, then as a car salesman for Meredith Connelly Motors, working his way up to sales manager. In 1964, Doc founded Laurentian Motors, a Chrysler dealership, which he successfully ran until his retirement in 1988. One late afternoon, in 1948, on the corner of Elm and Durham, in front of the old Post Office, Doc met Fredrica Percival who was walking home from work. That night, he took her to a dance, and about a year later, in June 1949, they were married. They had 4 children, Kathryn, (Robert Haynes), Phillip, (Stacy), Alexis, (Trish) and Celeste (Peter), all of whom survive him, as do his grandsons, Paul and Thomas Haynes, and his great grandsons, Graydon and Evan Haynes. Through their lives together, Doc and Freddy enjoyed travelling, the company of their many friends, weekly bridge games, dinner parties, curling, and remaining active and involved in Sudbury life. In retirement, they divided their time between their home in Florida, their much-loved camp on Lohi Lake and their home in town. In 2008, Doc mourned the loss of Freddy. He lived on in his home, able to continue to enjoy summers at his camp, watching sports on tv, cribbage games and chocolate cheesecake. He happily celebrated his 100th birthday, graciously accepting the many good wishes that came his way. Finally, as he liked to say, “I guess my age has caught up with me.” And lucky to the end, in the care of the exceptional nurses and personal care workers in Hospice, he spent his last days very comfortably. His was a full life - he provided unfailingly for his family, served his country and community and was a good son, friend and neighbour. He took pleasure in small things, midnight swims after a sauna, a brandy before supper and a sweet after, putting his feet up and reading the paper. To the very end, he kept his calm good nature, his flirty charm, his cheerfulness and ‘joie de vivre’. Doc will be missed and remembered by many. As he wished, there will be no funeral service. With heartfelt thanks to Dr. Walton, Julie Aube and everyone at Maison McCulloch Hospice. With gratitude, donations in Doc’s name can be made to the Hospice, or charity of your choice. For donations or messages of condolence, www.lougheedfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements entrusted to the Lougheed Funeral Home.
Oct. 25, 1920 - Jan. 31, 2023
Doc was born in Chapleau, Ontario to Arthur Bernier and Zita Mayer. Predeceased by siblings: Harry, Jules, Charles, Albert, Katharine (Kay), Alice, Jacqueline (Jackie), Maurice; survived by his sister Helen. At two years old, as Doc was about to fall backwards out of a hospital window, a nurse, alerted by his mother, grabbed him by the foot and pulled him safely inside. Doc was always lucky, and he knew it. The family moved to Oshawa when he was seven, where he organized a group of kids to collect pop bottles, which he counted, turned in for the returns and distributed the profits to his ‘employees’. When he was 10, the family moved to Sudbury, where he would live the rest of his life. He joined the ‘Donovan’ gang of kids, and they gave him his nickname, ‘Doc’, after Al Capone’s right-hand man - a name that would stick with him forever. After his schooling years at St. Louis de Gonzague and Sudbury Tech, at 19, he volunteered for the Air Force, trained as a pilot, and was stationed in England, flying Spitfires for the RAF, then RCAF, for the duration of World War II. Returning home, he first worked as a men’s clothing salesman, then as a car salesman for Meredith Connelly Motors, working his way up to sales manager. In 1964, Doc founded Laurentian Motors, a Chrysler dealership, which he successfully ran until his retirement in 1988. One late afternoon, in 1948, on the corner of Elm and Durham, in front of the old Post Office, Doc met Fredrica Percival who was walking home from work. That night, he took her to a dance, and about a year later, in June 1949, they were married. They had 4 children, Kathryn, (Robert Haynes), Phillip, (Stacy), Alexis, (Trish) and Celeste (Peter), all of whom survive him, as do his grandsons, Paul and Thomas Haynes, and his great grandsons, Graydon and Evan Haynes. Through their lives together, Doc and Freddy enjoyed travelling, the company of their many friends, weekly bridge games, dinner parties, curling, and remaining active and involved in Sudbury life. In retirement, they divided their time between their home in Florida, their much-loved camp on Lohi Lake and their home in town. In 2008, Doc mourned the loss of Freddy. He lived on in his home, able to continue to enjoy summers at his camp, watching sports on tv, cribbage games and chocolate cheesecake. He happily celebrated his 100th birthday, graciously accepting the many good wishes that came his way. Finally, as he liked to say, “I guess my age has caught up with me.” And lucky to the end, in the care of the exceptional nurses and personal care workers in Hospice, he spent his last days very comfortably. His was a full life - he provided unfailingly for his family, served his country and community and was a good son, friend and neighbour. He took pleasure in small things, midnight swims after a sauna, a brandy before supper and a sweet after, putting his feet up and reading the paper. To the very end, he kept his calm good nature, his flirty charm, his cheerfulness and ‘joie de vivre’. Doc will be missed and remembered by many. As he wished, there will be no funeral service. With heartfelt thanks to Dr. Walton, Julie Aube and everyone at Maison McCulloch Hospice. With gratitude, donations in Doc’s name can be made to the Hospice, or charity of your choice. For donations or messages of condolence, www.lougheedfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements entrusted to the Lougheed Funeral Home.