BERNARD, Mary Janet "Jay" 65

We’koqma’q First Nation: Jay, passed away peacefully at home after a long battle with cancer surrounded by loved ones on Thursday, May 6, 2021. She was born December 18, 1955 during a snowstorm in We’koqma’q and was the proud daughter of the Late Charles Joseph and Mary Rose “Rosie” (Smith) Bernard all We’koqma’q. She was a devoted member of the Blessed Kateri of Tekakwitha Church in We’koqma’q and took great pride in helping at church with readings and singing in the choir. She lived a life with strong religious beliefs as a Charismatic, Cursiesta, Carmelite and committed member of prayer groups and visited Medjugorje numerous times and had the opportunity to stay with the visionary Marijana and visited Guadalupe, Mexico. Janet was very proud of being a long-time public servant working for both the Eskasoni R.C.M.P. Detachment and finally finishing her career in the We’koqma’q R.C.M.P detachment until her retirement this past December. She always said, “If only I can help one person, that would be nice eh Lord”. Janet lived life to the fullest, leaving home to attend business college in Sydney upon graduation and went on to work and live in Halifax for many years and pursued modelling, acting and Tae Kwon Do and studied UechiRyu Karate with achievements in acting in the movie, The Scarlett Letter and Squanto, modelling for Native Reflections and working with designer, Thomas Markle and was a 2nd Degree Black Belt. She loved to travel all over the world visiting many countries with family and friends mostly for her religious devotion. She lived and worked in Halifax before returning to her home community to live and raise her son to her last days. Family and Friends meant everything to Janet. She frequently visited and attended almost every event or celebration, she enjoyed time with people she cared about. You most likely have a photo with Janet and her beautiful beaming smile. Her most treasured achievement in life is her only son Nathan, his wife, Lorissa and grandsons Tanner and Harley. She lived her life for her family, and you can see in almost every photo the deep love she had for them. She was predeceased by her parents, Charlie and Rose Bernard; the father of her son, Stephen Dicks; brothers, Benjamin and Frank Louis Bernard and Samuel, in infancy. She is survived by her only son, Nathan (Lorissa); grandsons, Tanner and Harley; brothers, Louis Joe Bernard, Gilbert Bernard, Charles Jr Bernard, Robert (Kelly) Bernard, John L Bernard (Darla), all of We’koqma’q; sisters, Annie (Toswal),Isabel Googoo (Raymond), We’koqma’q; Madeline Bernard, We’koqma'q; Mary Catherine Pierro, Wagmatcook; godchildren, Maurice Bernard (Lisa), John Paul Bernard, Kassidy Bernard, Christeney Bernard and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and cousins near and far and many friends. We the family would like to thank the Waycobah Homecare Staff and Nurses for all your extra care in her last days. Special thanks to Dr. Ritter and her oncologist, Dr. Saliba. A very heartwarming thanks to Palliative Nurse, Lori Ann Gillis and to her daughter-in-law, Lorissa Bernard who went above and beyond to make sure in her last days she was cared for, eased her pain, and kept her comfortable at home to fulfill her final wish. You are a true angel to do that for her to the end. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Whycocomagh. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com.