Bernice Courtemanche

Bernice Courtemanche was a young woman rooted in her hometown of Claremont, New Hampshire, known to those who knew her as a hardworking high‑school student who also worked as a nurse’s aide. Even in her teens she balanced school responsibilities with caring work, a reflection of a practical, service‑oriented spirit that her family and community remembered.

On May 30, 1984, Bernice was last seen in Claremont. Her disappearance was deeply felt by relatives, friends, classmates and neighbors who remembered a bright, earnest teen with everyday hopes of school, friends and a future. For nearly two years her absence remained a source of sorrow and unanswered questions for those who loved her.

On April 19, 1986, Bernice’s remains were discovered near Newport, New Hampshire. The loss of such a young life reverberated through the small communities she belonged to — a life that had touched others through work, friendships and family ties. In the years since, supporters and local advocates have sought to keep Bernice’s memory alive while urging authorities for answers.

Though public records about Bernice’s life are limited in scope, what is clear from contemporary reports is that she was a real person with roles — student, nurse’s aide, daughter and friend — whose life mattered to those around her. This remembrance honors Bernice’s humanity and the place she held in her community, and acknowledges the enduring grief and hope for answers that remain with her family and neighbors.