Lucille "Lucy" Marie Eugena (Bedard) Gerling of Putnam passed quietly into eternal peace and rest on Thursday June 5, 2014 following a year long battle with cancer.

She was born January 18, 1949 in Bloomfield Vermont to Adelard and Lydia Rose (Guay) Bedard. She is survived by her best friend and companion of 35 years (25 as her husband), Bernard "Rick" Gerling. Her daughter Robyn Buskey was an especially close and fierce ally throughout her battle. Additionally she is survived by a second daughter, Tina Codding of Johnston, R.I., grandchildren Zachary and Chelsea Iwans, her brother Bernard Bedard of Danielson., brother Rosair Bedard of Pennsylvania, brother Roger Bedard whose whereabouts are unknown, three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews as well as brother-and-sister-in-law Steve and Martha Gerling of Ashford. and Michael Gerling of St. Louis Mo. She is pre-deceased by two other siblings, Bernadette Smith and Oliver Bedard .

Lucy was a genuine and forthright person. While straightforward and honest in her opinions, she was also quite caring and compassionate. If you treated her with common decency and respect you got back that and much more in return. If not, however, she would occasionally drop hints to let you know you could have been nicer... But while a bit outspoken at times she could also be hysterically funny when she got on a roll, especially when one of her wisecracks just dropped out of the blue. Some of her very favorite things in life, usually in the company of Rick, were Bingo and the penny slots at Foxwoods and chowing down on seafood whenever and wherever they could track it down….the closer to its saltwater source the better. And as a result of another of her passions, there are very few homeless teddy bear figurines in her neighborhood. The only rule was that they had to be smiling bears to live at her house. She will be missed by us all.

At her request there will be no public services; all final arrangements will be a private family matter. Those gracious enough to want to commemorate something to her memory are asked to contribute to the Deary Memorial Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260 with the deepest thanks from her family. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, 48 School Street, Webster, MA is directing arrangements.  A guest book is available at www.shaw-majercik.com .