Obituary: Claudette Berdine Wise
Maine Native Claudette Berdine Wise Remembered for Devotion to Family and Faith
Claudette Berdine Wise, a Maine native who went on to build a life and family along the Massachusetts coast, passed away on Aug. 13, 2026, in Chatham, Mass. She was 88.
Born on April 13, 1938, in Falmouth, Maine, Claudette was the daughter of Albert and Yvonne (Bourgoin) Pelletier. She grew up on the family's small farm on Blackstrap Road, where she learned early lessons in hard work and faith. Family members recalled that even as a child, she carried a distinctive blend of sweetness and sass, an unpredictable combination that made her a joy to be around.
After graduating from Falmouth High School, she pursued a career in nursing, attending Holy Ghost Hospital School of Nursing in Cambridge, Mass., and earning her LPN credential.
On May 11, 1964, Claudette married Emanuel "Manny" Wise, a professional musician, teacher, and artist. The couple settled in Danvers, Mass., where they raised two children, Scott and Carrie. When the children were young, Claudette stepped away from nursing to focus on raising them. Once both were in school, she took a job driving a local Danvers school bus, a role that reflected her deep affection for children.
In addition to caring for her own kids, Claudette spent many years babysitting a girl she referred to as her "special little girl Amanda," and took great pleasure in watching her grow up alongside her own children.
Claudette had a wide range of interests and talents. She was known for her sense of style, her cooking, her skill at crafting, and her talent for finding a good bargain. The family homestead in Maine remained a central gathering place throughout her life, drawing her parents, her three siblings, and a large circle of nieces and nephews for visits filled with laughter and connection.
She also loved flowers and gardening, water aerobics, and swimming at Seymour Pond near the family's summer home on Cape Cod.
Claudette's Catholic faith was a constant source of comfort throughout her life, and her devotion to family was at the center of everything she did.
She was predeceased by her parents, her sisters Velma M. Boulos and Lorelle J. Pelletier, and her husband Manny, to whom she was married for more than 55 years.
She is survived by her son, Scott Wise of Salt Lake City, Utah; her daughter, Carrie Beard, and son-in-law Kevin Beard of Brewster, Mass.; her brother, Peter N. Pelletier of Brewer, Maine; and many nieces and nephews.
The family has expressed gratitude to the staff at Broad Reach for the care and support provided to Claudette.
A Catholic Mass will be held at Holy Redeemer Church in Chatham, Mass., with a second Mass to be celebrated in Maine. Both services will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Claudette's memory to Holy Redeemer Church, 57 Highland Ave., Chatham, MA 02633.
