Meta Lucy Bernier, age 94, of Cornell, died Sunday, December 16th, 2007, at the Bishop Noa Home in Escanaba where she was a patient since 2001.

Meta Bernier was born in Garden the daughter of Charles M. and Hattie M. (Farley) Winter on August 28th, 1913 and was raised in Garden. After attending Garden Township Schools and graduating Garden High School as Valedictorian in 1930, she attended Delta County Normal School, Western Michigan University, and Northern Michigan University. Meta subsequently taught school at Kate’s Bay School and at the Garden Grade School.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd, 1939, she married Eugene Joseph “Barney” Bernier in Garden and resided in Garden for a number of years until relocating to the Detroit area for 2.5 years during World War II. After Barney served in the U.S. Army, they moved back to Garden in 1945 and they owned and operated the “Garden House” until 1963.

Meta returned to teaching in 1961 and taught at the Garden Township School in home economics and at the Fairbanks Township School with grades 1 through 4.

In 1963, she and her husband relocated to Pontiac, Michigan and Meta taught at St. Benedict’s Catholic School for 11 years at the 1st and 2nd grade levels. She retired from there in 1975 and she and Barney have made there home in Cornell since 1978. Barney preceded her in death on  May 6th, 2006.

Meta was a member of the Holy Family Church in Flat Rock and its’ Altar Society. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sashabaw Plains Chapter, and its’ Cameo Club. In addition, she was an honorary member of the Garden Historical Society and a life member of the Fr. Solanis Guild.

Meta Lucy Winter Bernier survivors include:

a daughter- Becky (William) Gruber of Waterford, MI

a son-in-law, Everett Kalishek, of Gladstone

3 brothers- Roy Winter of Manistique, MI; Virgil “Bud” Winter of Garden; Vernon (Mary) Winter of Mankato, MN

11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Genie Kalishek, in 2003; a grandson, Scott C. Kalishek, in 1988; a sister, Marcella Thompson, and a nephew, Charles “Buzzy” Winter.

The family of Meta Bernier received friends on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at the Holy Family Church in Flat Rock from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial followed on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Family Church with Rev. Fr. Jose J. Maramattam officiating. Luncheon followed services in the parish hall. Spring burial will be in the New Garden Cemetery. The Bernier family respectfully requests memorials be directed to the Garden Historical Society. Envelopes are available at the Skradski-Boyce Family Funeral Homes of Delta County who are assisting the family.