A Celebration of life will be held from 2pm to 4pm at the Edwin Thompson Senior Center in Woodstock, Vt on Sunday Oct. 22nd.

Hartland, Vermont

Bertha (Potwin) Pierce passed away on September 30, 2023. She was born in Mooretown, Vermont on August 28, 1927 to Raymond and Jennie (LaVerne) Potwin.

Bertha grew up in Woodstock, Vermont, graduating from high school with the Class of 1946. On December 4, 1948, she married Scott Pierce and they moved to Pomfret, Vermont living there for over 48 years while raising their two children together. After they both retired, Bertha and Scott went on to purchase a second home in Florida where they enjoyed traveling and meeting new friends there. They later would sell both their house in Pomfret and FL and downsize to Sharon, Vermont until Scott passed away. A few years later, Bertha made the move to Hartland, Vermont where she has lived out her remaining years.

Bertha had many jobs over the years besides raising her family, such as working in the shoe factory in Windsor to care taking for the Lonergan family in Woodstock, Vermont before retiring in the early 1980's. However, Bertha was and will be remembered as the epitome of what a true Vermonter is; a family dedicated, hard-working, strong-willed, lover of the outdoors who always made sure she had fresh VT Maple Syrup on hand. In the early days, she enjoyed adventures such as fishing, hunting and snowmobiling and later she found joy in other outdoor hobbies such as tending to small vegetable and flower gardens; often schooling others in the many flower species she prided herself in knowing. She and Scott also had enjoyed hosting and visiting with friends while playing cards and other games for several hours over the years as well. After Scott's passing in 2009, Bertha continued as the strong family matriarch and always enjoyed telling anyone who asked, all about the history of the family and many stories from her past; it is what kept her most vibrant and busy. Bertha also was an avid cook and baker and loved hosting many family meals and if you were willing, she didn't mind sharing a good secret or two about how to prepare something in the kitchen. Later, when she decided cooking was too much, she enjoyed going out with many friends and family to grab a bite to eat at her favorite restaurant for her seafood chowder.

Bertha lived a long and healthy life, but it came with many heartbreaking losses for her as she was predeceased by several family members including: both of her parents; all six of her siblings, her husband Scott in Nov. 2009; her son Patrick Sr. in Nov. 2011 and most recently her daughter Coleen in Aug. 2023. Bertha was very proud of how much her family had grown over the years, which is why she is survived by 6 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren (and their families) along with several other extended family members whom all love her and will miss her dearly.

A small graveside service at the Highland Cemetery in Woodstock, Vermont and a celebration of life will both be held by the family at later determined dates.