Bernardine Carter

Bernardine (Narda) Carter, age 90, Tunkhannock PA, formerly of Barre VT, passed away peacefully at home on October 10, 2009, surrounded by her loving family. Bernardine was born Sept. 13, 1919, in Websterville VT, the daughter of the late Bernardino and Visitacion (Campo) Gomez, formerly of Cantabria Spain. Her husband is Stanley Carter. They recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Bernardine graduated from Goddard High School in Barre VT. In January of 1945 she graduated as a Registered Nurse from Heaton Hospital School of Nursing in Montpelier VT. July 9, 1945 she married Stanley. They moved to Alamogordo NM where Stanley was stationed. Upon Stanley’s discharge from the Army Air Corp. in Nov. 1945 they moved to Barre VT. Bernardine began her nursing career at Heaton Hospital in 1946, where she worked until 1951. She then chose to stay at home with her two daughters. During this time she enjoyed gardening, sewing, her involvement in Girl Scouts, school groups and fund raising. In 1966 she returned to nursing at Barre City Hospital which then became Central Vermont Hospital. In 1975 she accepted the position of charge nurse at Berlin Convalescent Center. She retired in December 1982. Stanley retired in July 1984. A very special part of her life began in 1950 when she and Stanley started using their weekends to build a second home on the shores of Lake Champlain at St. Albans Bay VT. Over the years they spent most their spare time on the Lake. Upon their retirements they made St. Albans their summer home. In January of 1987 Bernardine and Stanley moved from Barre to Tunkhannock PA where they helped manage Chapters, their daughter Pamela’s bookstore, until 1995 when the store was sold. She spent the remainder of her life enjoying travel and family. Bernardine and Stanley traveled to Ireland, England and Spain, tracing family roots. In Spain Bernardine discovered a cousin she didn’t know she had. They have kept in touch ever since. In addition to her husband Stanley, Bernardine is survived by daughters Pamela Weiss and her husband Stephan, of Tunkhannock PA, Elizabeth Cookson of Barre VT, a brother; Casimiro Gomez of Okeechobee FL, four grand-daughters; Kristin Kirchner of Tunkhannock PA, Rebecca Cookson of Barre VT, Heather Weiss-Constable and her husband Jeff of Lynchburg OH, and Mikaela Bolio of Barre VT, three great-grandchildren; Samantha Weiss-Kirchner, a freshman at Fredonia University in NY, Kyler and Bryant Constable of Lynchburg OH, sisters-in-law; Marjorie (Carter) Freeman of Middlebury VT and Helen (Carter) Kew of Montpelier VT, Betty Gomez of Okeechobee FL, two special ‘daughters-by choice’; Linda Hoffman of Loveland OH and Mimi Kaufman Reel of Tunkhannock as well as many nieces and nephews who were very special to her. She was predeceased by brothers Antonio and Manuel Gomez; sisters Josepha Bigras, Maria Louth Milne and Martina Anderson; and her best friend Belle Senecal. At the wishes of Bernardine there will be no calling hours or funeral. A celebration of her life will be held next summer at their home in VT. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater PA Chapter, 3544 N. Progress Ave. Ste 205, Harrisburg, PA 17110.