Marion Parker Berard

Berard, Marion (Marnie) passed away on April 20, 2024 after a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of the late Jean-Paul Berard with whom she shared 63 wonderful years of marriage. Born in Boston in 1930, she lived most of her life in Connecticut and met Jean when she was 16 while he was visiting her neighbor in Manchester. Jean left to serve in the U.S. army stationed in Sendai, Japan, asked her to write to him, returned in time for her senior prom and married in 1951. Together they embarked upon lives committed to community service, devotion to their faith and love for their five children. Along with her husband, she is predeceased by her son Victor Berard, daughter Kathleen Sally Devine, brother Frank Parker and sister Mary Theroux. Marnie graduated from Springfield School of Nursing and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry from St. Joseph College in West Hartford. Her career in nursing was notable for her roles during historic health events. With the help of Jean and a few doctors, they set up free polio vaccine clinics, receiving written thanks from Jonas Salk for helping to eradicate polio. In 1966 she worked with the Windsor Locks Health District to introduce Medicare to the health practices in Town. She later worked at nursing homes and served as the Director of Kimberly Hall Nursing Home. She began working at St. Francis Hospital not long after moving to West Hartford in 1971. When HIV/AIDS first emerged Marnie introduced the protocols for caring for those patients. In her role as a Case Manager/Discharge Planner she worked with many grieving families and came out of retirement to serve as a Bereavement Coordinator at St. Francis Hospital. She was a member of St. Peter Claver Church since 1971, singing in their remarkable church choir, assisting Jean in his duties as Youth Minister, making stone soup to serve during Lent, establishing an annual craft fair, Breakfast with Santa, and was a founding member of the Church book club. The club has been meeting for over 22 years and Marnie treasured the enduring friendships she shared with the members. She was awarded the St. Joseph medal from the Archdiocese of Hartford in recognition of her faithful service to the parish. Her spiritual journey, honed by her course work in pastoral ministry, continued throughout her life. Her children and grandchildren looked forward to her daily text with a Thought For The Day from her readings. Marnie is survived by her sister Peggy and husband Watson Lupher, children Suzanne and husband Mario Rodriguez, Denise and husband Thomas Hall, Steven Berard and wife Trisha, nine grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be Thursday, April 25th at 8:30 a.m. at the Church of St. Peter Claver Parish Hall, 47 Pleasant St., West Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial following at 10:00 a.m. in the church. Interment will follow the mass in Fairview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider donations to Mercy Housing & Shelter or The House of Bread, both in Hartford. Molloy Funeral Home, West Hartford is assisting the Berard family with arrangements. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com.