Bernadette Marie O’Brien, “Dette” age 82, of South Yarmouth, peacefully entered into eternal life, surrounded by her family, on January 5, 2017.  She was born on January 22, 1934 in Brighton, MA.
 
Bernadette was the beloved wife of the late George F. O’Brien, her husband of 48 years who died in 2004.  She attended Mount St. Joseph Academy in Brighton, MA.  After graduating, she went to work for the telephone company and remained there until she had her first child, Kathy.  After living in Manchester, CT and  Needham, MA and spending summers on Cape Cod, she and her family permanently relocated to the Cape in 1979.  Bernadette continued to raise her kids and helped her husband in the start up of a plumbing and heating supply business.  She and her husband loved to travel and enjoyed seeing all parts of the U.S. and Europe. Eventually, they enjoyed winters in Naples, FL where she spent time with her two sisters and brothers-in-law, as well as hosting her kids’ visits.  You could find “Dette” going out to lunch or at a fashion show.  She adored fashion and always looked great no matter the occasion.  She formed close friendships along the years while she was involved with her church, bridge club, exercise group, and Red Hat Society.
 
Most important to her were her children and grandchildren.  She has given them many happy memories of festive holidays, celebrations, lots of laughs and talking around the kitchen table with a cup of tea.  “Dette” lived her faith by the way she lived her life.  She shared good advice and common sense with her easy-going outlook.
 
She is survived by her children:  Kathy O’Brien, of Barnstable, MA, George O’Brien and his wife, Terry, of Sandwich, MA, MaryBeth O’Brien of Sandwich, MA, Mark O’Brien and his wife, Carmen, of Sandwich, MA, Kevin O’Brien and his wife, Bonnie, of Sandwich, MA and Bernadette (O’Brien) Falletta and her husband, Anthony, of Fairfield, CT.  Additionally, she is survived by her 16 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, her siblings MaryLou and George, her sister-in-law, Margaret, as well as many nieces and nephews.
 
A funeral  Mass, to celebrate and give thanks for her life, will be held at Saint Pius X Church, Station Ave., South Yarmouth on Friday, January 13, 2017 at 10 a.m.
 
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bernadette’s memory to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America https://www.alzfdn.org.