Dorothy Emily (Cote) Bernier

WATERVILLE – Dorothy Emily (Cote) Bernier, 98, of Waterville passed away on Oct. 22, 2025, at her home with family by her side.

She was the youngest daughter of Stella (Proulx) and Onezime Cote who were blessed with a total of nine children. Always a tight family, at one point five of the adult siblings all lived on the same street. While Dot didn’t have any children of her own, she was a loving aunt to many nieces and nephews and a caring Godmother to quite a few as well. She was a lifetime member of the Corpus Christi Parish where she served as a Eucharistic Minister at Notre Dame Church.

After graduation from Waterville High School, Dottie worked locally for downtown merchants. She met her husband Joe while walking home on her lunch break. He strolled beside Dot and struck up a conversation. The pair was smitten. After a year of courtship, they married on May 28, 1949. They enjoyed taking trips to Las Vegas, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. She loved playing golf at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro as well as Beano at the VF in Winslow.

Joe passed away in 1995, but as a Mainer she “kept on trucking”. Dot could often be seen out in the yard on her knees “tidying up” the grass with a pair of scissors.

She had a close relationship with all her siblings and is now reunited with them by the side of Our Lord and Savior.

The family would like to thank Hospice for the caring services they provided this past year.

A mass of Christian burial will be held at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 116 Silver Street, Waterville on Saturday, November 1 at 9 a.m., followed by a burial at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, 78 Grove Street.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed; condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice.