Marie Bernadette Hein (1931-2024)

Marie Bernadette Dufour Hein (1931 - 2024)

Marie Bernadette Dufour Hein, 93, passed away peacefully at home on December 30, 2024 surrounded by her daughters.   Marie “Bernadette” was born in Madawaska, Maine in 1931 on a potato farm, the 8th of nine children.  She grew up speaking French and English and retained her French language skills throughout her life.  Bernadette was known as a studious child; she graduated from high school in 1949 where she was the valedictorian of her class. Following in the path of her sisters, Bernadette attended Aroostook Teachers College.  

At this point in time, Bernadette decided to test her wings and moved to Hartford, CT living at the YWCA.  She worked on weekends as a hat-check girl and it was here that she met the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Hein at a dance while he was stationed nearby with the Coast Guard.  Prior to shipping out to Korea, he hitchhiked to northern Maine to ask for her hand; they were married in Kansas City, KS in 1955.

Bernadette’s adult life was largely focused on raising their six children.  Upon Dick’s return from Korea, they lived in Topeka, KS where the first of their six children was born.  Dick then pursued his Masters’ Degree at the University of Pittsburgh where their second son was born.  Dick accepted a job with the U.S. Navy and the family of four moved to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1960 where their third child was born.

They returned to the States and settled in Columbus, OH where their last three daughters were born.  Bernadette was now a full-time mom to six children aged 0 to 10.  In 1973 they moved to Camp Hill, PA.  As the children grew up, Bernadette began working outside the home including working for the U.S. Navy in Mechanicsburg.
Bernadette and Dick retired to Hershey, PA in 1996 where they were active members of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.  They were avid travelers exploring many continents together and visiting their children across the country.  They enjoyed hosting family Christmas every year which included spirited card games in which everyone all learned a few French words.
In 2017, Bernadette joined Christine and her family, Roger and Eric Pihl, in Bellevue, WA after Dick’s passing in 2015.  Though she now lived on the West Coast, Bernadette remained an “East Coast” girl in her heart.  In Bellevue, there were lively political discussions, big birthday celebrations, holiday parties and card games.  In addition, she continued to enjoy jigsaw puzzles, daily two-mile walks, her Wall Street Journal, and was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church


As described in her high school yearbook and which remained true her entire life, Bernadette was “small of stature, large of mind, a better pal is hard to find.”
Bernadette is survived by her six children and their spouses including:  Greg and Joyce Hein of Woodbridge, VA; Eric and Michelle Hein of Charlotte, NC; Denise (Hein) Bailey of Henderson, NV; Christine (Hein) and Roger Pihl of Bellevue, WA; Theresa (Hein) Rava of Bellevue, WA; and, Dr. Jeanne (Hein) and Ed Thurber of Hooksett, NH; grandchildren, great grandchildren, her sister-in-law, Marjorie Hein of Gardner, KS as well as many nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:30 PM on Saturday January 18th at St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033.  Visitation will be held prior to Mass at 11:30 AM at St. Joan of Arc Church.  Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Harrisburg, PA. where Bernadette will be laid to rest next to Richard Hein, her husband of 60 years.