It is with the most extreme sadness that we announce the passing of our dear and beloved mother Bernadette Ada Barnes (Roma), 92, of West Chezzetcook in the Annapolis Royal Nursing Home, while in the presence of her two daughters Shelly & Debbie. Bernadette was born to the late Arthur and Jane Roma in West Chezzetcook on January 25th 1932.  She is predeceased by her parents Arthur & Jane, her husband of 63 years Victor; sisters Thecla (Quintal), Elsie (Gray), and Beatrice (Gay); brothers Paul, Clarence and Albert; brothers-in-law Thomas Gay & Roger Quintal and sister-in-law Sandra Roma (Morash).  She leaves her memories to be cherished by her daughters and their husbands Shelly (Doug) Pohl and Debbie (Thomas) Weltz; grandson Alex Weltz (Jessie Strum); brother Anslem (Bertha); sisters Marjorie (David) Clark, Hazel (Gary) Porter; sister-in-law Mable (Clarence) Roma; nieces Lois, Melinda & Cara; nephews Doug, David, Art, Andy, Darcy, Joey, Johnny, Robert, John, Jay and well as numerous great nieces and nephews and life-long friends Edna & Joseph Murchie.

Bernadette didn't have an overly easy life but you would never know it seeing her with that big bright smile of hers and those eyes that always sparkled. Faced with physical challenges during her life she never let things get her down or stop her from living life to the fullest. She left home at the age of 14, having finished grade 11 and rented a tiny room at 2 Brenton St in Halifax with her now life-long girlfriend Edna.

She literally bumped into Victor in 1954 in front of a store on Gottingen St in Halifax.  Vic often noted that as soon as he looked at her with that big bright smile and those eyes full fun and mischief, she was the one. He was in love. He proposed twice before she accepted and they were married on November 28 1957.  The lived on 2 Mitchell St in Halifax until Vic was posted and they moved to Port Arthur Ontario in 1958.  When they returned to Halifax in 1960, they had an addition to the family, Shelly Anne.  They bounced around a bit until they finally settled in to a small apartment on Portland Street in Dartmouth above the furrier.  Not long after in 1961 there was another addition to the family, Deborah Rose.

Eventually they moved the family back to West Chezzetcook living in a small home. They then built a home on the Old Road close to where Bernie grew up.  She got a job at the IWK Children's Hospital as a ward clerk in the intensive care unit. We remember how much she loved it there.  Being the loving and caring person she was she thoroughly enjoyed being close to the children and being a part of getting them through their days in the hospital. Vic was posted again, this time to Ottawa where they stayed for a little over a year. From there another posting brought them to St Bruno Quebec.  By the time they moved back to Nova Scotia they had made numerous friends in St Bruno who they kept in contact with.  After retirement Victor found her a beautiful home on Bridge St in Kingston in the valley.  There they thrived with gardens full of veggies, heavily laden fruit trees and flower gardens galore.  Bernadette was so happy there.  She enjoyed many types of crafts including quilting, tole-painting, sewing, knitting, crochet, Ukrainian egg painting and much more. They both volunteered in the community for Meals on Wheels delivering meals to home-bound elderly and Bernie also worked at the second-hand store in the Kingston Mall. One thing Bernie absolutely loved was going for long drives with Vic.  They frequented the mountain areas in particular and she enjoyed the fall leaves and of course, Bernie would insist they stop at every yard sale on the way and often went home with her arms full of treasures.  More and more folks got to know them through their travels and eventually they were seen as a caring and vibrant couple who had much to give back to their community. Sadly, Bernie had to be moved into the Annapolis Royal Nursing Home when Alzheimer's entered her life.  For the first few years she was able to function and speak and was often found in other residents' rooms hugging them and trying to calm them of their fears.  Eventually the disease took that away from her as well.  Her last years found her sitting in a wheelchair looking out a window.  We know that Bernadette lived her life to the fullest facing all new challenges head on while enjoying the trip we call life, always remembering to stop and smell the roses, or lilacs she would say.  She embraced her life with an open mind, open heart and open arms always doing for others and expecting nothing in return all while never complaining despite the constant pain she suffered.  If you met her, you couldn't help but love her.  She definitely touched the hearts of everyone she met. She was an incredibly caring, loving, colorful lady who made the world a better place just by being a part of it. In heaven I know she will shine as the brightest star and I have no doubt she will embrace her new existence with her mind and heart wide open and be reunited with the love of her life Vic.  She will be greatly missed by all that knew her.  A service will be held at St Genevieve's Church in East Chezzetcook on May 24th at 11am with interment of the ashes of both Bernadette and Victor directly after the service at St Anslem's Cemetery.  A repast will follow at the Chezzetcook Firehall. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society or Canadian Cancer Society. The online guestbook may be signed by visiting: www.middletonfuneralhome.com