Alan Bernard
1949-2017
BERNARD, Alan- Age 67, We’koqma’q First
Nation. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Alan
Bernard on Monday, March 6, 2017, in St. Martha’s Regional
Hospital, Antigonish. Born in Sydney, Alan was the proud grandson of
the legendary Grand Chief, Gabriel Sylliboy. Alan is survived by his
wife of 40 years, Juliana. He also leaves behind the light and loves
of his life, Maria, Jason (Michelle), Annie (Gussie) and Tim (Nel),
three very special people in his life who he loved just as much as his
own children, Bucky (Tracy), Lana (Luii) and Liam; his grandchildren,
Peter, Stephanie, Landon, Justin, Owen, Trinity, Trishelle, Shaelynn,
Eternity, Kirkland, Jonah, Jada, Mya, Misha, Aaron, Ryan, Dawson,
Allie, Angie and Avery; four great-grandchildren, Caitlin, Jaiden,
Kenny and Alayah. Alan is also survived by his sisters, Julena, Ducy
(Bob), special sister, Murdena Marshall; brothers, John Wayne, John
Alan and Seven; his godchildren whom he loved very much, Karen,
Bernadette, Lana, Felix, Majestic, John Basque, Shaelynn and Carlyle
who greeted his godfather in eternity. Alan had numerous nieces and
nephews, all very special to him. Alan was predeceased by his parents,
Charles Andrew and Annie Mae (Sylliboy) Bernard; brothers, Freddy,
Charles « Chuckie », Lawrence
« Lunch », Walter and Carl.
In his younger years, Alan was a NADACA Employee and sat on
the Board of Directors. He was a Social Development Administrator for
Potlotek. Alan saw the importance of our Mi’kmaq family
children services. Alan was highly educated; he became the first
Mi’kmaq to graduate from Acadia University, later to go on
to pursue another degree from Cape Breton University. He was an
employee of the We’koqma’q Band, serving as
Director of Education and Guidance Councillor for 25 years. He was
known for visiting his students all across the Maritimes, treating
them to meals and many times leaving them money to assist them. He
never missed a graduation of any of his students.
Alan had many friends, all of them very special to him; he
was known anywhere he went. A special gratitude from us to Kenny
Basque, Jerome Basque, Patsy Larade and Robert Boudreau, all very
special to Alan.
A huge Montreal Canadiens fan, Alan instilled the love of
hockey to his sons and to countless others. Every winter weekend was
dedicated to hockey, practices, games and tournaments. It was his
ultimate pleasure to travel to Montreal many times to watch them play.
In the summer, Alan loved fishing and boating. He was a ferry taxi
boat operator at Chapel Island Mission. In his first year of operating
the boat, Alan destroyed the old wharves that had stood for decades.
As a result, the Mi’kmaq Nation has Alan to thank for the
new wharves that the Potlotek Band had to replace. Over the years he
perfected his boat driving and gained many loyal
customers.
Alan served as MC for community functions in
We’koqma’q. He was a founder of the Waycobah
Mi’kmaq minor hockey committee and was an avid fundraiser
for the community. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch
124, Iona and was also on the Elder’s Committee –
UNSI. Alan was President of the We’koqma’q Kisiku
Committee and was an avid photographer for the community. Alan served
as a We’koqma’q Band Councillor for many years.
His leadership skills and honest approach gained him much respect from
our community. It was his love and passion of his job that paved the
path for his own children, Jason and Annie to follow in their
dad’s footsteps. Alan had a youthful persona to him, always
wearing a smile. He made sure that the youth in our community had
something to do, whether it is dances, skiing, bowling, Santa Clause
drives, and winter carnivals. Alan was always the first one up on the
dance floor and the last to leave.
We would like to thank Dr. Carlyle Chow for his friendship
and the great care for Alan. To the surgical team, ICU nurses at St.
Martha’s; we want to thank you from the bottom of our
hearts. All of you went above and beyond in caring for Alan. We will
never forget you. In honour of our husband, father, brother,
grandfather, uncle, godfather please donate blood to the Red Cross, as
it was the blood of donors that kept him alive.
Visitation will be after 1 p.m. Sunday in the Multi Purpose
Building, 160 Reservation Rd, We’koqma’q First
Nation. Funeral mass will be 11 a.m. Tuesday from Saint Kateri Parish,
Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, We’koqma’q
with Father Paul Abbass officiating. Burial in the parish cemetery at
a later date. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at www.haverstocks.com

Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Alan Bernard – 1949-2017.source

avis deces Alan Bernard – 1949-2017- avis mortuaire Alan Bernard – 1949-2017