BERNIER, Deslandes of Boston, formerly of Petite Riviere de Nippes, Haiti, passed away on July 30, 2022. Retired Director of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Department of Disability Determination. Former husband of Marie T. (Pierre-Louis) Bernier. Devoted father of Ronnie Burnett and her husband Mathew, Darnelle Bernier Kjoller and her husband Andrew, and Arnould Bernier. Loving grandfather of Yazmine, Gideon, and A’Marie. Cherished brother of the late Gisele Bernier and Roger Bernier. Also survived by his beloved sister-in-law Lina Bernier, nephew Guedwig Bernier and family.
Deslandes Bernier was born in Petite Riviere de Nippes, Haiti on May 5, 1934. As a child, he excelled in primary school and secondary school studies before entering the Faculté d’Agronomie d’Haiti through a
national academic competition. He changed course to pursue law,
and graduated with a diploma from Faculté de Droit d’Haiti.
Deslandes immigrated to the United States in the mid-sixties, where he
joined some family and many friends in New York City. He married
and relocated to Boston after the birth of his first child. His children
are Ronnie, Darnelle, and Arnould.
Deslandes worked for the Action for Boston Community
Development (ABCD), an anti-poverty, community development
and human services organization. From there he began his 27-year
career at the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
Department of Disability Determination in 1973, retiring as a
Director.
During his life, Deslandes was dedicated to his children, his family, extended family and friends. He was a wise advisor, enthusiastic debater, welcoming host, warm guest and frequent visitor to New York and Canada, as well as to Florida later in life. He enjoyed discussing politics and current events;
watching hockey (his beloved Boston Bruins!), boxing, basketball,
and soccer; playing bingo with his cousins; and weekly calls with
family and friends. While these activities slowly receded over the
course of years following a diagnosis of early dementia, he
continued to provide sage advice and to jokingly engage the
caregivers around him. Surrounded by his children, he died
peacefully on July 30, 2022.
Visiting hours will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Wilson-Cannon Funeral Home 456 High St. Dedham on Thursday, August 4th from 5-8pm. A Funeral Service will be held in the funeral home on Friday, August 5th at 11:45am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment will follow the service in the family lot at Forest Hills Cemetery.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in Deslandes' memory to the Haitian Multi-Service Center c/o Catholic Charities 275 West Broadway South Boston, MA 02127.