Obituary of Roger H. Bedard

WESTERLY, RI . . . Roger H. "Barney" Bedard, 75, of Westerly, RI, and formerly of Oneida, passed away on Saturday, May 26, 2018, after a lengthy illness. He was born on October 1, 1942 in Boston, MA, the son of the late Leo and Olive (LaCroix) Bedard. Barney spent his early years in Boston, graduating from Hyde Park High School. He also graduated from Mohawk Valley Community College and Utica College of Syracuse University with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art. He later lived in Rome, Oneida, Port Gibson, and Haverhill, MA, before moving to Westerly, RI, in 2013. Barney was a Vietnam Veteran, serving in the US Air Force for 22 years, retiring in 1984. He later worked at Oneida Healthcare and Clifton Springs Hospital. He was an artist, cartoonist and created a weekly newspaper comic strip in the Mohawk Flyer while stationed at Griffiss Air Force base. Barney was a DJ for many years, collected stamps his entire life, loved photography, and was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Barney married Cecelia May Wallace on August 23, 1980, in Lincoln, NY. Cecelia passed away on November 29, 2002. Surviving are: two sons, Roger Bedard and Maywood Bedard; one daughter, Grace Bedard; four stepdaughters, Sally (Mackey) Blakely and her companion Robert Harp of Oneida, Jacqueline (Mackey) and Craig Roberts of Elizabeth, CO, Catherine (Mackey) and Jeffrey Schultz of Sauquoit, and Teresa (Mackey) and Richard Hecht of Sherrill; two brothers, Richard and Kathy Bedard of West Roxbury, MA, and Joseph and Mary Bedard of Norwood, MA; three sisters, Yvonne and Harold Martell of Orleans, MA, Jeanne and Jim Powers of Basehor, KS, and Anita Chance of Yuba City, CA; eight grandchildren, Erin Quackenbush-Ramsey, Cathy Clark, Heidi Schultz-Parslow, Matthew Schultz, Lauren Hannigan-Page, David Hecht, Matthew Roberts, and Cameron Roberts; eight great grandchildren; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. Barney was predeceased by three brothers, Infant Leo, Leo Emile Bedard, and Paul Bedard; and three sisters, Valerie Scannell, June Bedard, and Loretta Otiba. Memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at the J. Homer Ball Funeral Home, Inc, 201 James Street, Canastota. Deacon Adolph Uryniak of St. Agatha's Church, Canastota, will officiate. Burial, with Military Honors, will be in Lenox Rural Cemetery, Canastota. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, prior to the service, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home. In his memory contributions, may be made to Wanderers' Rest Humane Association, Inc., PO Box 535, Canastota, NY 13032, with envelopes available at the funeral home. J. HOMER BALL FUNERAL HOME, INC. Canastota A Trust 100 Family Owned Funeral Home