~In Memoriam~
It is with sadness that we inform you that Sister Jean Marie Pinette, o.s.u. passed away on Monday, November 21, 2011. A former Ursuline Academy faculty member, Sister Jean Marie taught religion at Ursuline Academy for many years. She dedicated her life to serving others and educating young women.
Sister Jean Marie Pinette, o.s.u.
Sister Jean Marie, (Aurore Pinette), 96, Ursuline of the Northeast Province, died, Monday, November 21, at Mount Saint Joseph, Waterville, where she had been a patient for several years.
Sister Jean Marie was born in Fort Kent, Maine, on April 26, 1915, the daughter of Joseph and Emilia (Lapointe) Pinette.
After receiving her elementary education in schools in Northern Maine, and her secondary education at Mount Merici Academy in Waterville, Sister entered the Ursuline Novitiate in Waterville in 1935. In 1938, Sister pronounced her first vows, and her final vows in 1941.
As a young professed religious, Sister attended Saint Michael’s College in Vermont and Notre Dame in Indiana in preparation for her teaching career, which was long and very successful. Sister taught in Maine’s Catholic schools: Waterville, Skowhegan, Lewiston, Caribou, Springvale, and Brunswick. She also taught at two Ursuline schools in Massachusetts: Ursuline Academy in Boston, which later moved to Dedham, and Ursuline Academy in Springfield. Sister also served as superior and principal in Brunswick, Maine.
Sister was predeceased by her parents and ten brothers and sisters. Surviving are nephews, Reverend James Knox and Paul Curtis.
Memorial donations may be made to the Ursuline Sisters Retirement Funds, 1 Saint Angela Way, Waterville, ME 04901.
July 2, 1943 - August 13, 2011
This past summer, Ursuline Academy lost former faculty member and longtime friend, Mrs. Francine Lahey. In their yearbook, the Class of '88 said it best: "Far more than a teacher, she always endeavored, To show us she cared her guidance we treasure. And so to Mrs. Lahey, without further ado, We thank you, we love you, and this one's for you." Mrs. Lahey's husband, Gary, and his family sent the following letter to express their thanks and appreciation to the Ursuline community for their support and prayers.
*We will be holding a Mass in memoriam for Mrs. Francine Lahey on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 9:45AM. We welcome you to join us at this event.
To the Ursuline Academy Community
C/o Rosann Whiting, President
Dear Rosann
I am writing you to thank everyone, alumnae, students and her colleagues in the Ursuline Community. I hope that our thank you can reach all the Ursuline well-wishers. Since Fran’s funeral our family has been the recipients of a tremendous outpouring from so many of the many young women who Fran taught and counseled and were such a part of her life at Ursuline. I cannot tell you how deeply my daughters and I are moved by so many expressions of gratitude, admiration and affection from so many of “Mrs. Lahey’s girls.” It gives us such joy to know that Fran made such a difference to so many young women while at Ursuline.
We love the wonderful anecdotes from the students and the ways they were each connected to Fran in their own special way. Our family was so moved by the young women that came to Fran’s funeral, especially those in uniform…it was a special tribute to Fran the teacher. We are deeply moved by each of the letters, notes, prayers, masses and charitable donations that we have received on Fran’s behalf. Each person feels some special connection with Fran and in some way is a best friend to “Mrs. Lahey.”
It’s unusual to have met someone like Fran. If there is a legacy that Fran leaves behind it would be:
- Be honest, to yourself and others. Out of kindness and respect, tell others what they need to hear, not what you think they may want to hear.
- Challenge yourself always. Reach and be the best that’s in you. Work as hard as you can.
- Be confident. We each have something in us that is special and makes us great.
- Lastly, be able to laugh and smile. Be able to enjoy the good around you. Never lose the child-like appreciation of life around you.
Our family thanks the wonderful Ursuline community of people that belong to Fran’s time at Ursuline. We will all carry Fran’s legacy with us for all our days.
Bless you all.
Gary, Sarah, Susan, Anne and Sharon Lahey, our grandchildren …and of course, Mrs. Lahey
PS: It’s our hope that you can pass this along to all the Ursuline Community. At the risk of missing someone, and among the Ursuline parents, faculty, staff and especially students that have contacted our family, sent flowers, charitable donations to Holt or letters or are having masses said for Fran, we would like to thank the following: Mary and Joe DiMasi, Carolyn Ciaccia, Lindsay Connor '08, Marge Costa, Joanne Vacirca, Erin Mahoney McKenna '97, Sheree and Peter Dolan (parents of Anna Dolan), Sister Mercedes and the Ursuline Sisters, the Keefes-parents of Sheila Keefe '08, Marianne Tierney ' 02, Meredith Atkinson, Jim and Cathy Trawinski, former students (Carolyn Beanna, Emily, Lourdes, Julia, Meghana, Neha, Roxanne and Wendy), Roseanne Crowley, Carolyn Arnish '08, the Nealon family, the Barbara Murphy family, Sandra Perry (for her egg salad sandwiches), Rosann Whiting, Shannon Lydon '13, Rachel Sulmonte '13, Terry and Joan Earls, Alexandra Maggioni, Barbara Brandt, Nicole Norton, Sheila and William Curtis, Rebecca Baskin, Samantha Sharkey, Lindsay Connors, Charlotte Harrison, Mary Hall, Bridget Bussell, Adrienne Watkins, Carolyn Glandorf, Katherine Bradgon, Guy, Carol and Holly Tomase, and Diana Bernstein and the faculty and staff at the Ursuline Academy.
