Constance G. (Bernier) Theriault

CHINA – It is with a heavy heart that I bring the sad news of the passing of Constance G. (Bernier) Theriault. On this 15th day of May 2021, Mom has left this mortal earth where she has suffered for the past three years and has joined her husband of 63 years and her two youngest sons, in a joyous reunion I’m sure.

Mom was born in Portland, Maine Feb. 25, 1935. She was the oldest of nine siblings and grew up on King Street in Westbrook where many stories have been told pertaining to that address. From there she met and married on August 27, 1955 my dad, Joseph S Theriault, the absolute love of her life and began her very adventurous life. She left Westbrook in 1955 with her new husband and headed for Michigan (where I was born) and dad started his first career as a lab tech. After two years they ventured south to Delaware, Ohio (where Tim came along) and after a short ten months again moved north about 100 miles to Castalia, Ohio where Steve and Mike joined the crew.

It is now 1960 and team building is over, Mom and Dad buy their first house in Castalia and we as a family begin our yearly trips to Maine. Now keep in mind this young woman with four boys in 1962 had to come to Maine and her husband couldn’t leave work, she hopped in their 1962 chewy 2 with two of the boys and headed 850 east. She made it there and back and before we moved back to Maine eight years later, she made at least six trips all by herself, she was very gutsy. It has now proceeded to 1970 and we have moved back to Maine and it’s my mom’s job to find us a place to live, so everyday we would leave my grandparents house in Westbrook and travel the state looking for a house to buy. After two months she found a house to be finished in China on a 3 mile dirt road 100 miles from nowhere (as thought by all other relatives) which we still call home today. Mom loved this town and the real estate agent Elmore Hussey who sold her the house, he kind of adopted her. I remember the day he shook my mom’s hand and sealed the deal and said “wait till your father see’s this gem” none the less, this was now home and dad was happy.

Mom had many jobs throughout her life, in Ohio she worked at many Dr’s offices through my dad’s contacts at the hospital and believe me she needed some time away from four energy filled boys. She liked working but loved her boys (they were her angels) One of her favorite stories was when we moved back to Maine she went to work at Thayer Hospital in Waterville and was working for the original Dr. Hawkeye Pierce from MASH, Dr. Richard Hornberger, that blew her mind. After working there a few years she took some time off and they moved to Millinocket for a couple of years and then back to China. Mom got bored and got a job at Unum in Portland which meant a lot of traveling but she loved it and stayed there until she retired.

After they retired Mom and Dad became snowbirds and lived the good life of “warm in summers of Maine and warm in the winters of Florida” They did this for about 20 years until health issues in 2018 forced them to move back to Maine.

Mom was predeceased by her husband of 63 years Joseph S. Theriault; her two youngest sons Steven D. Theriault and Michael S. Theriault; her parents; and four of her siblings. She is survived by her two oldest sons Gregory I. Theriault and his wife Rebecca of China, Timothy S. Theriault and his wife Rebecca also of China.

She also left behind 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A couple of special thank-you’s go to the staff and her friends at the Muskie Center in Waterville who’s help was invaluable in giving us a break with mom’s daytime care over the last 18 months and the staff of Dexter Health Care for showing Mom a loving caring touch during this pandemic when we were not permitted access. In her final days they showed such genuine compassion and It was greatly appreciated.

There will be a celebration of life at the Waterville Elks Banquet Center on May 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. All are welcome to share their stories.