Brother Bernard Derie, O.H.aka Normand Joseph Derie
Ojai, CA
Br. Bernard was born in Grafton, MA, June 6, 1929. He was the son of Henry and Florita (nee Mercure) Derie. He was preceded in death by his brother Raymond and his sister Lorraine Derie.
Br. Bernard entered the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God as a young candidate in 1952 and after several years decided to leave the brotherhood after having served in health care ministry at St. Joseph’s in Ojai, and at Hammond Hall in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He pursued a health care career as a registered nurse and as a nurse anesthetist in Florida. However, as the years passed, he felt a deep yearning to return to the Brothers of St. John of God and re-entered the Order on December 1,1971, and pronounced his final vows in November 1981. Bro. Bernard continued his care of the sick as a registered nurse and nurse anesthetist working at St. Mary Desert Desert Valley Hospital in Apple Valley, CA and also assisted at Victor Valley Hospital in Victorville, CA when help was needed.
He lived the spirit of St. John of God showing a deep compassion for the sick and the dying. He had a way of reconciling family members who were estranged.
After retiring as a nurse in 1990, he volunteered for two years at the newly opened Chris Brownlie Hospice for people with HIV and Aids in Los Angeles. He returned to Apple Valley and volunteered at St. John of God Health Care Services, a residential chemical addiction service in Victorville. His final years were spent at St. Joseph’s Health & Retirement Care Center in Ojai. He was a true contemplative in action. His gentle spirit touched the lives of residents, co-workers and the members of his community.
He died on October 24, 2016, on the feast of St. Raphael the Archangel celebrated by the Order. Br. Bernard, till the very end, had that beautiful gentle and contemplative spirit. He learned to meet Christ in his personal life struggles and in the suffering of others. At the heart of his personal spirituality was following “The Little Way” of St. Teresa Lisieux, and the Carmelite path of the Dark Night of the Soul.
Bro. Bernard is survived by his nephew David Derie of Oxford, MA and the members of his religious community at St. Joseph’s Health & Retirement Center, Ojai, CA. Fr. Peter Gelfer, O.H. will celebrate the Funeral Mass at St. Joseph’s Health & Retirement Center Chapel on Monday, October 31, 2016, at 10:00 A.M. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA. Funeral arrangements are by Joseph Reardon Mortuary of Ventura, CA.