Bernard Rocco Proia

We celebrate the well lived life of Bernard "Bernie" Rocco Proia, 82, who passed away peacefully on August 29, 2021, at his home in Attleboro, MA, surrounded by his loving family.
Born on May 6, 1939, in Attleboro, MA, Bernie was the son of the late Linda (LaNinfa) Proia and Rocco Proia.  He was the beloved husband of Lucille (Plante) Proia, whom he married on September 11, 1965.
Raised and educated in Attleboro, Bernie was a graduate of Attleboro High School, Class of 1957.  He received his accounting degree from Providence College in 1961 while enrolled in the ROTC program.  He entered the Army after graduation, serving two years active duty and four years in the National Guard, retiring as Captain.
Bernie became a Certified Public Accountant in 1966. He worked at the Glass, Dittleman & Co., CPA firm for seven years, and Sisto & Co. CPAs for four years, before becoming self-employed in 1974, until his retirement in 2012.
In addition to his wife, he was the loving father of Stephen Proia and wife, Kelley (Shaw) Proia, of Allen, TX; Mark Proia and his partner, Jennifer de Boer, of Portland, OR; and Kristin (Proia) Houle and husband, Mark Houle, of Attleboro, MA.  He was the cherished grandfather of five grandchildren: Regan Proia, Mason Houle, Evan Houle, Connor Houle, and Kaelyn Proia. He was the brother of Rocco Proia of Attleboro and his wife, Happy Proia, and the late Joseph Proia and his wife, Jane Proia.
Bernie leaves his in-laws with whom he was always very close: Roberta and Paul Sanford, Carole and Jim Dunlap; his many nieces and nephews; as well as his dear childhood friends: Charles Cartier and Kenneth Brough.
Bernie was a member of the Sons of Italy and the Attleboro Elks and helped organize Class Reunions for the Attleboro High School Class of 1957.  He enjoyed playing golf at Chemawa Golf Course as a member of the Blackstone Valley Electric League.
Bernie and Lucille loved traveling to Italy, the Azores, many of the National Parks, Florida, and visiting their sons and families at Thanksgiving time in Oregon and Texas. He relished spending time with his wife at their beach house in East Falmouth, MA, and always looked forward to their annual two-week vacation with the entire family.  He loved going to the beach and clamming.  He enjoyed working in his yards, both in Attleboro and in East Falmouth, and took great pride in their appearances.  He was always in the stands at his grandsons' basketball and baseball games and ever critical of referees' calls.  Bernie was a distant fan of his two granddaughters' athletics and special interests. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and a loyal friend with a quick-witted sense of humor.  More than anything, Bernie cherished his time with family and friends.
Family and friends are cordially invited to attend a Visitation with Veteran's Honors on Thursday, September 2, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the "Memorial Chapel" of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, MA.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, September 3, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, North Main Street, Attleboro, MA.
There will be no public gathering at the funeral home prior to the commencement of Mass.
Burial with Military Honors will follow at St. John's Cemetery, West Street, Attleboro.
At the family's request, visitors at both the Visitation and the Funeral Mass are expected to wear a face mask at all times.
The family would like to extend their thanks for the kind and compassionate care provided by Dr. Howard Safran and his team at Miriam Hospital, with a special thanks to Faye Hollander, Bernie's nurse in the chemotherapy outpatient clinic, and to the staff of Community VNA Hospice Care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Bernie's name may be made to either the Hospice of CVNA, 10 Emory Street, Attleboro, MA 02703 or to Dr. Safran's Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, c/o The Miriam Hospital, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI  02906.
For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com .
Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleborough. (508) 695-0200