Jean M. Beattie Bernard, 89, of Scituate, Rhode Island, passed away peacefully, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love, learning, and creativity. Jean was married to her beloved husband, Robert Bernard, for 20 wonderful years.
She was a devoted mother to Kim Bishaw of Cumberland and Pam Beattie of Columbus, OH, and a proud grandmother to 21 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, each of whom brought her immense joy.
Jean is also survived by her brother, Earl Thurber of Scituate and her sister, Linda Ruotolo of Johnston and a wide circle of extended family and friends who will miss her deeply. She was predeceased by her first husband, Franklyn R. Beattie in 2001.
A lifelong educator, Jean taught students from kindergarten through college, sharing her love of language, literature, and learning with generations of young minds. Her passion for teaching took her as far as China.
Jean was a woman of many talents. She was a gifted watercolorist and stained-glass artist, whose creative spirit shone through in all she did. A harpist with a love of music, she found beauty in sound and silence alike. Her faith was central to her life—Jean was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as president of the Relief Society, always ready to uplift and support those around her.
Jean called Scituate, RI home for 64 years, dedicating more than three decades of that time to teaching in the local community. She built a life full of meaning, service, and artistry. Her legacy lives on in every life she touched, every student she taught, and every loved one she held dear.
Her funeral will be held Monday, April 28, 2025, at 11 am in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 551 Central Pike, Scituate, RI. Burial will follow in the Rhode Island Veteran’s Cemetery, Exeter. A visitation will be held Sunday, April 27, 2025 from 3-6pm in the Anderson-Winfield Home, Rt 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville.