Obituary of Diane Gee Bernier

Diane Gee Bernier, daughter of Harold M. Gee and Lucille (Regimbald) Gee and widow of Raynold Bernier died on Thursday December 9, 2021 at Brookdale at Buckingham, Glastonbury.  Diane’s family moved to the “country” in Manchester in May of 1950.  She attended Manchester Green School, Bennett Jr. High School and Manchester High.  She graduated with honors from MHS in 1964.  Her secretarial studies allowed her to start working at the Manchester Town Hall while still in High School.  She was a member of the first graduating class of Manchester Community College in 1966.  After graduation she began working at The Hartford Insurance Company.  She worked for several large insurance and financial concerns including The Futures Group. She later retired from Electrical Wholesalers, where she worked with her daughter, in 2010 after 5 years as a phone operator. 

Diane was introduced to her future husband Ray by a cousin who was Ray’s best friend.  They were married in 1966 and moved from a small apartment in Hartford to a house in Vernon.  They then moved to Manchester where they lived until Ray’s death.  Diane was a voracious reader throughout her life.  Her favorite place to be was on a beach, in the sun, with a good book.  She and Ray purchased a small camper from which the family stayed at a Rhode Island beach on most summer weekends.  She also loved to travel with Ray, visited Bermuda, Nashville, the Poconos, and many shorter trip destinations.  Diane also vacationed in Hawaii with close girlfriend.  Diane’s love of cats was a constant part of her life, as well as tending to her gardens and bird feeders.  Left behind to mourn her are her children Lynn Bernier (Partner Gary Bolduc), Kevin Bernier (wife Jessica) and grandchildren Aleina Bernier (fiancé Ian Parsons), Nathaniel Bernier (wife Nicole), Jocelyn Bernier, and Matthew Andreoli.  She also leaves her sister Linda Holyfield (husband Russell, A nephew Travis Holyfield (wife Jennifer), and many cousins in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to her parents, Diane was predeceased by her husband of 53 years Ray, two brothers-in-law Richard and Wilton Bernier and a sister-in-law Janice.  

Family and friends may call at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center St. Manchester on Wednesday, December 15th from 4-6 pm.  A memorial service will be held at 6 pm at the funeral home.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Associations at www.alz.org.