Bernadine Ann Lee's Obituary
Bernadine Ann Lee, née Curtis, of St. Clair, Michigan passed away on June 23, 2026 at the age of 91. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio on June 21, 1935 to the late John and Marie Curtis.
Bernadine graduated from Detroit’s Southeastern High School in 1953. She subsequently attended the University of Detroit Mercy, graduating in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. While attending college she worked as a bank teller, meeting William “Bill” Lee whom she would marry in 1958. Bernadine is the mother of three children, William, Brian, and Barbara. Raising her family in suburban Detroit and St. Clair, Michigan, she enjoyed family camping vacations in the American West, gardening, sewing and cooking Bernadine and Bill were happily married for 48 years until Bill’s death in 2006.
Once married, her Catholic faith and commitment to the education of children brought her to a career educating Catholic youth at Detroit metropolitan schools including St. Joan of Arc, St. Athanasius, and St. Jude. Her teaching career culminated with her assuming the role of Assistant Principal of St. Jude in East Detroit. Although she never lost her love of teaching she retired from the profession in 1980 and began a second career in 1981 as the Personnel Director for North AmericanBenefit/Women’s Life Association in Port Huron, Michigan where she worked until again retiring in 1999.
Bernadine filled her retirement years with children, grandchildren and eventually great grandchildren. She volunteered at local Southeastern Michigan institutions, including the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts and Lake Huron of the Woods Hospital in Port Huron. Her decades of volunteering enabled her to expand an already extensive circle of friends and relationships.
Always welcoming and gracious, with a ready smile and embrace, Bernadine filled her days with family, friends and volunteering. Her thoughtfulness, wisdom, and positive attitude were well known to all who knew her. Bernadine’s life was defined by her love of family, cheerful demeanor, grace, a willingness to help others, and her Catholic faith. Her family and friends will miss her but are comforted by her example of a life well lived, her abiding faith in God, and find solace in the knowledge she has found eternal salvation.
Bernadine is survived by her loving children William C (Robin) Lee, Brian (Angela) Lee and Barbara (Robert) Birdsong; grandchildren Amanda (Jesse), Kristen (Marcus), Ryan (Holly), John, Ashley (Chris) and Steven (Lindsay); great grandchildren Jordan, Charlie, Brian, Leo, Macie and Bruce; brothers John (Judy) Curtis and Tim (Sherry) Curtis. She is preceded in death by her husband William F. Lee as well as her parents John and Marie Curtis.
A visitation will be held on Monday, July 6, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m at Young Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, 4061 St. Clair Hwy., East China. Instate 11:00 a.m. Tuesday until the 12-noon Funeral Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 610 S Water St, Marine City.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers at Mercy Village Memory Care in Ft. Gratiot who provided compassionate care, devotion and support and Terri and Kathy of Crossbrige Hospice for their dedication and support to Bernie through the last 3+ years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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