Obituary of Bernice Cotter

Bernice M. (Reed) Cotter, a woman devoted to her family and her faith, passed away at the Aberjona Rehabilitation Center on Monday, January 18, 2016. The beloved wife of the late John “Jack” Cotter, she was 87 years old. Bernice was born in New York. She was raised and educated in Cambridge and attended St. Mary’s High School. After school she went to work for ComGas and it was there she would meet Jack Cotter who would become her husband. They were married in June of 1961 and purchased their first home in Arlington. It was in Arlington that they raised their four children. In 1988 they moved to Woburn. Bernice and Jack had a wonderful marriage and created a loving and warm home for their 4 children. Bernice led a full and active life with many interests. Over the years she had many different hobbies such cake decorating, ceramics, and knitting & crocheting. She also enjoyed playing a bingo. Bernice and her enjoyed family vacations at Hampton Beach and in later years they would go to North Conway New Hampshire. Bernice, Jack and their daughter Mary enjoyed many cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean. Bernice was a woman of deep faith. She was a longtime member of St. James and St. Agnes Parishes in Arlington and then St. Barbara’s Parish in Woburn. Bernice’s greatest joy was her children. She was a loving and supportive mother throughout the years and had a wonderful close relationship with all her children. Bernice was blessed to have three wonderful grandchildren that she was so very proud of. She played an important role in their lives helping to care for them during their younger years. Bernice was the beloved wife of Jack. Loving mother of Michael & his fiancée Rhonda Stone of Goodyear, AZ, Patricia Gibbons & her husband Joseph of Andover, Karen Gibbons & her husband John of Littleton and Mary Cotter of Woburn. Proud grandmother of Nicholas, Matthew & Lauren Gibbons. Funeral from the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Friday, Jan. 22 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Barbara’s Church, 138 Cambridge Rd., Woburn at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Thursday 4-8 p.m. Burial in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. Memorials in Bernice’s name may be made to the American Red Cross, Monetary Donations, 139 Main St., Cambridge, MA 02142