Obituary of Clairette Elizabeth Berard

Essex Junction – Clairette Elizabeth (Poquette) Berard, 84, went to her Heavenly home on Saturday, June 17, 2017, at her home in Essex. 

Clairette was born in North Hero, VT on September 23, 1932, daughter of Ellsworth and Victoria (Trombley) Poquette, both deceased.

Clairette attended the North Hero grade school, and graduated from Alburg High School in 1950. After graduation, she worked in Burlington, as secretary at the Burlington Rendering Co, then at General Electric, until the birth of her first child.  Then she was a stay-at-home Mom and housewife, raising her 12 children (10 children in less than 10 years) and taking care of her beloved husband, Roland.

While raising 12 children, she held many part and full time jobs, including administrative duties and office sales for her husband’s part-time Lawn Mower and snowmobile shop in 1969.  From 1969 to 1988, she was a Stanley Home Party Demonstrator.  From 1976 to 1985, she was office Manager for Roland’s Construction until the business closed.  In 1986 she was employed as Administrative and Office Support Manager at Shelburne Museum until retiring in 1998.

She was active in church organizations.  At the age of 18 was President of North Hero Altar Society, and then in later years, held offices in Women’s council at Our Lady of Grace.  She was an avid snowmobiler in the 70’s and 80’s and held offices in the SnoLovers Snowmobile club. In 1979, she was Secretary for the Blue Army Apostolate of Fatima, until 1998 when she took over the role of President until 2003 and was elected Treasurer.  She was elected again as President from 2004 to 2007.  She was a current member of the World Apostolate of Fatima and a member of the Catholic Daughters of America.

On October 10, 1953, she married Roland J. Berard at St. Rose de Lima Church in South Hero and they were blessed with 12 children. Roland passed away on February 20, 2017.

She is survived by her children and spouses - Becky (Gil) Barber, of Colchester, Gregory (Nancy) Berard of Milton, Rachael Bliss of Calais, Anne (Louis) Mossey of Milton, Mary Anne (Johnny) Corrow of Plattsburgh, NY, Stephen (Laurie) Berard of Jericho, Rose Marie (Lee) Ryea of Milton, Rolenda (George) Corrow of Essex Junction, Coleen (Arthur) Soares of Peru, NY, Jeff (Debbie) Berard of Essex Junction and Angelia (Andy) Haag of South Burlington and her daughter-in-law Donna (Berard) Benoit of Milton.

She is also survived by 29 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her son Vincent in 1981, sons-in law Tommy Bushey in 1988 and Mike Bliss in 2004, and her granddaughter Mary Berard in 1988.  She leaves her sisters, Veronica (Clifford) Matott, Plattsburg, NY, Deborah St. Denis, Morrisonville, NY, sister-in-law Carol Poquette (Essex), brothers Wayne (Amelia), South Hero, and Joe (Bev) Poquette, of North Hero.  She was predeceased by her brother Roger and brother-in-law John St. Denis.

Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, June 20 from 2-4 and 6-8pm in the Minor Funeral Home in Milton. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 11:00am in Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Colchester. 

In lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions in Clairette’s name may be made to either the Vermont Right to Life or the World Apostolate of Fatima (VT Blue Army) or St. Anne’s Shrine in Isle LaMotte.