Pauline Theresa (Bernard) Richey

PAULINE THERESA (BERNARD) RICHEY

WHITEFIELD, NH -- Pauline Theresa (Bernard) Richey, age 89, of Whitefield, passed away peacefully with her husband of almost sixty-nine years and her family by her side at Littleton Regional Healthcare on Tuesday, March 28, 2017.

Pauline was born on September 19, 1927 in Gilman, Vermont to James and Mildred (Hartshorn) Bernard and raised there and on a farm in Lancaster, NH. She graduated from Lancaster Academy in 1945 and worked as an operator for New England Telephone. Pauline married Kenneth E. Richey of Littleton on June 5, 1948 in Lancaster. They lived in Littleton where they raised their three children. In 1983, Pauline and Kenneth moved to Forest Lake in Whitefield. She was the bookkeeper of her husband's construction business and Pauline also worked at Mildred C. Lakeway Elementary School as a teacher's assistant in the Multiple Handicapped program for many years. After retirement, she and Ken traveled through the Unites States and Canada with their various recreational vehicles, spending months in Alaska, Colorado, and Arizona. They also became one of Florida's "snowbirds" as they traveled south each winter until 2012. In 2014, Pauline and Ken moved to the McIntyre School Apartments in Whitefield where they enjoyed the companionship of fellow residents, the activities, and the wonderful staff.


Pauline always had a love for the outdoors; she enjoyed watching the birds, and kept beautiful gardens. She enjoyed family cook outs at the lake, doing puzzles, playing games and always had a book that she was reading. Pauline showed her creativity through her beautiful knitting as well as other crafts, like basket weaving. Her grandchildren will always remember her for her delicious banana oatmeal cookies, her famous "Jam-Jam" cookies during the holidays, the big breakfasts she made for them when they spent the night and her thoughtful, hand-written, letters in the mail. Some of her favorite moments were spent attending her grandchildren's (and then great-grandchildren's) sporting events and activities. Pauline was also a lifelong Red Sox fan.


She was predeceased by her mother, Mildred Bernard in 1931; her father, James Bernard; the mother who raised her, Florence Bernard; and her only brother, Gordon Bernard.

Pauline is survived by her loving husband, Kenneth Richey, of Whitefield, NH; her three children, Junette Pearson and husband, Gray, of St. Simons Island, GA; Edwin Richey and wife, Diane, of Whitefield, NH; and Kim Richey and wife, Kimberly, of Chateauguay, NY. She leaves seven grandchildren, Stephanie Menard and husband, Bill, of Cumberland, RI; Gray Pearson of Dallas, TX; Kendra Austin and husband, Todd, of Rumney, NH; Jonathan Pearson and wife, Erin, of Meredith, NH; Jennifer Sullivan and husband, Scott, of Newtown, PA; Abigail Butler and husband, Josh, of Lusby, MD; and Katherine Rautenberg and husband, Erik, of Randolph Center, VT. Pauline is also survived by her eleven great-grandchildren, Gabriel and Andrew Menard; Brooke and Bailey Austin; Declan Pearson; Ella and Cole Sullivan; Charles, Nora and Lucy Butler; and soon-to-be born, Annabel Rautenberg. Other survivors include her three sisters, Bernadette Labonte of Elijay, GA; Ann Bronson of Groveton, NH; and Mary Weeks Depinea of Winchester, NH; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.

Services -- A celebration of her life will be held on July 8, 2017 in Littleton. Details will be announced later.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to CMF-Whitefield, c/o Lisa Romprey, 16 Highland St. #100, Whitefield, NH 03598.