Frank Bernard, age 85, of Norton, MA, formerly of Randolph, MA, passed away on Monday, May 12, 2025, with family by his side.
Frank was born in Boston on January 5th, 1940 and raised in Randolph back when it was still a rural town. As a kid, he could often be found fishing in the Randolph reservoir or tagging along with his mother on trips to Vermont to visit family. He grew up outside—and never really came in.
Frank married Phyllis in 1964, and the life they built together was full—of family, stories, noise, laughter, and love. He was a proud husband, father, and grandfather who never missed a chance to brag about his kids or celebrate their wins.
He ran a construction business with the kind of hands-on, hard-nosed style that got things done. Frank was loud, direct, and full of personality. He gave a lot of young men their first real shot at work—if you showed up and worked hard, you were good in his book. He might not have handed out compliments, but he was proud of the people he helped along the way.
Frank loved gardening—not in a quiet, peaceful way, but in a big, joyful, dig-in-the-dirt kind of way. He passed that love on to his kids and was always ready to help a friend or neighbor with their yard or garden. He gave his time and labor freely, never expecting anything in return—except maybe a cold drink and some conversation.
His favorite place on earth was his camp in Vermont. That’s where he could really be himself—hunting, fishing, laughing too loud, telling stories with cousins and neighbors, and soaking in the outdoors. In later years, he got a lot of joy out of checking his trail cameras, keeping tabs on the wildlife like a kid on Christmas morning.
Frank is predeceased by his parents, Wilma Cook and Joseph Bernard, and by his brothers, Victor Bernard and Gerald Bernard.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Phyllis Bernard, and their four children: Frank Bernard; Maria Tilden and her husband Jeff; Joseph Bernard and his wife Bobbie Jean; and Angela Carlson and her husband Neil.
Frank was a proud grandfather to Valerie Tilden, Lindsay Richardson, Courtney Harrison, Ava Bernard, Joseph Bernard Jr., Luke Bernard, Isabella Bernard, and Savannah, Corynne, and Amelia Carlson. He was also a great-grandfather to Piper and Rowan Bernard; Cameron Walker, Khadira & Khiro Harrison; and Lila and Cooper Richardson.
He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Anne Marie Bagley, and his nephews, Chuck Crocker and his wife Deirdre, and Philip Crocker and his wife Alleigh.
Frank will be remembered as big-hearted, boisterous, and impossible to ignore. He lived fully, loved fiercely, and left behind stories that will be told for years to come.
Services and burial will be private, and visiting hours are omitted.
To send his family a message of condolence, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com