TOPSHAM — Clarice H. Bernard, 83, of Topsham, died July 10 at Parkview Hospital in Brunswick, with her family by her side.

She was born Aug. 27, 1929, in Mexico, the daughter of Asaph Lawton Hutchinson and Mable Holman. She graduated from Mexico High School with the Class of 1947.

On Sept. 6, 1948, she married the love of her life, Eugene Bernard. Together they raised their family in the Rumford-Mexico area. She played an important role in helping her husband with his job as transportation supervisor at Boise Cascade Paper Mill in Rumford. She later became a secretary in the Rumford School Department.

In 1984, the couple moved to Portland, Ore., after Eugene was transferred to the Boise Cascade Portland office. They moved back to Maine in 1999, residing in Topsham to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Bernard was an avid crossword puzzle fan, and when her eyes were better she loved to read. In her younger days, she enjoyed dancing with her husband. She dearly loved her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Alton Hutchinson, and sisters Gweneth McLeod and Isabel Hutchinson.

She is survived by her husband of almost 65 years, Eugene Bernard, of Topsham; her sons, Gregory Bernard, of Brunswick, and Timothy Bernard, of Tennessee; her daughter and husband, Deborah and Donald Siviski, of Wiscasset; three grandchildren, Jodi Siviski of Greenland, N.H., Kari Siviski Economou and husband Aaron, of Kittery, and Nicholas Siviski, of Portland; and five great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Maggie, Decker, Adeline and Violet.

Her family would like to extend deep appreciation and gratitude to the staff of Parkview Hospital for the loving care they gave Bernard.

A celebration of life was held Wednesday at Brackett Funeral Home, in Brunswick. In lieu of flowers,  donations may be made to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, 3121B Hotel Road, Auburn, ME 04210.