Bernadette Mary Cote

Bernadette Mary Dumont was born on May 17th, 1941, at the Fort Qu'Appelle Indian Hospital to William and Rose Dumont, the seventh child of 14 and their fourth daughter.

Bernadette is survived by her son Darren Cote, and daughters Diane Cote and Linda Cote. Grandchildren: Sarah Cote, Jasmine Starr, Wayne Starr, Matthew Starr. Great Grandchildren: Theresa Cote, Priscilla Cote, Scarlett Cote, Asher Cote, Sebastian Cote. Her siblings: Anita "Squaw" McLeod, Florence "lodine" (John) Constant, Eli Dumont, Theresa "Odie" (Art) Walker, Pauline (Louis) Personius, Donna Dumont.

Sister in Laws: Doris Dumont, Deb Mary Rose Anderson-Pratt. Bernadette is survived by four generations of nieces, nephews, and numerous cousins.

Aunty Bunny attended the Lebret Indian Residential school in the Qu'Appelle Valley.

She worked at the Saint Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. While living in Winnipeg, Bernadette met a sailor in the Royal Canadian Navy who would become her husband Edwin "Junior" Cote. Bernadette married and had her four children in Winnipeg. Later, she moved to Lebret, Saskatchewan to raise her children. Bernadette completed adult upgrading to attain her grade 12 in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan.

Next, she would become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Bernadette's best friend was Sister "Millie" Knippshild and together they worked to provide catechism, prayer services, and the word of God to the community of Lebret, and First Nations people of the valley.

Aunty Bunny was a very loving, forgiving, and positive person. She never criticized or looked negatively on people, instead she always focused on the positive of people and spoke to uplift people and make people feel better. That was her way and everyone she met absolutely loved her. She believed strongly in God all her life. She treated all people with respect and dignity. Aunty Bunny loved her nieces and nephews and enjoyed taking them along with her own children to the lake to swim, going for walks on the hills, picking berries, and travelling to powwows with them. She loved to sew, knit, crotchet, draw, and she was a wonderful storyteller. Aunty Bunny was very proud of her Cree culture and never really lost it after attending the Lebret Indian Residential School. Sometimes she would speak Cree to other Cree speakers, but she mostly spoke English. Aunty Bunny took Cree language courses at the First Nations University of Canada. Everyone will remember how Aunty Bunny had a great sense of humor and she loved to laugh.

Bernadette is predeceased by her husband Edwin "Junior" Cote and her son Edward Joseph

Cote. Parents: William and Rose Dumont. Sisters: Dorothy Kohorst, Monica "Mona" Wallace, Katherine Dumont. Brothers: Wilfred "BoJack" Brass, Franklin "Frankie" Wilfred Dumont, Joseph "Dougan" Dumont, John "Johnny" Dumont. Special Cousins: Patrick

"Wahoo" Desnomie, Harvey Dumont. Special Auntie: Elizabeth McKay. Sister in laws:

Cecily Brass, Myrtle Laronde, Melvina Cote. Brother in Laws: Bill Kohorst, Jim Wallace, Art Walker, Kenny McLeod, Charlie Laronde, George Cote, Fred "Uncle Butcher" Cote, Brian (Law) Shingoose, Arnold (Jap) Cote. Special nephew: Kenneth McLeod. Special friend: Sister Emilie "Millie" Knippshild.

Wake will be held at Okanese Learning Center (Okanese First Nation, Balcarnes, SK) on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 4:00 PM. 

Funeral service will be held at the Okanese Learning Center the following day; Sunday, September 3, 2023 at 11:00 AM. 

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