Therese Richard

SISTER THERESE RICHARD WINOOSKI - Sister Therese Richard, 99, died Friday, July 3, 2015, at Our Lady of Providence Residence in Winooski. Therese Richard was born on Dec. 27, 1915, one of six children, in the town of Rumford, Maine, whose French population was primarily of Acadian extraction. Her father, Eli, from Rogersville, Canada, was a self-employed transportation businessman. Her mother, Alma, from Nail Pond, Prince Edward Island, was employed as a secretarytreasurer for the S.J. Gagnon Clothing Store in Rumford, and after her marriage, in addition to being a homemaker, as secretary-treasurer for her husband's transportation business. Therese attended primary school in Rumford and was graduated from Mount Merici Academy and High School in Waterville, in 1934. During the years following her graduation, Therese experienced being called to religious life and was praying with this call. By 1937, she was inquiring with the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary of Bedford, Mass., and the Sisters of Providence of Montreal, Quebec. After praying with the information and correspondence she received from the two congregations, Therese decided to enter the Sisters of Providence, after being attracted to the variety of charitable works carried out by this congregation. She entered the Sisters of Providence on Feb. 26, 1938, pronounced her temporary vows on Feb. 28, 1940, and her perpetual vows on Feb. 28, 1943. Though not initially attracted to the ministry of teaching, for the major part of her apostolic life as a Sister of Providence, Therese was in the field of education. For over 40 years, between 1942 and 1980, she taught elementary education at the Providence Hospital in Chandler, Quebec, and taught elementary education in Providence schools in St. Johnsbury, Burlington, and Winooski in Vermont, and at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, Ill. In 1980, Sister Therese began a new ministry, accepting a pastoral ministry position with the New Hampshire Catholic Charities in Berlin, working with various diocesan groups and movements. In 1992, she left Catholic Charities to work in pastoral ministry at Saint Joseph Parish Church in Berlin. During these years in Berlin, Sister Therese lived as a member of the Sisters of Providence community at Saint Vincent de Paul Nursing Home in Berlin. In 1990, she returned to Our Lady of Providence in Winooski, Vt., to begin an "active retirement" of giving services to her community; i.e., driving the sisters, serving as receptionist, and offering various other services. In June of 1966, Sister Therese was appointed as the liaison from the Sisters of the Providence Associates in Winooski. In this role, she shared with them her wisdom and the riches of the Providence spirituality and mission, met with them once a month and participated in their apostolic activities. She was especially enthusiastic in sharing with the Providence Associates the message of the Charism and mission of Blessed Emilie Gamelin and the Sisters of Providence. She encouraged them, little by little, to assume their proper identity as Providence Associated. She was aware of the fact that in the years to come, there would be fewer and fewer Sisters of Providence to accompany them. Sister Therese Richard, known for her gentle manner, her warm smile and welcoming personality, lived her life as a Providence Sister with grace and humor, affection and an exquisite attention and care for others. The Charism of Blessed Emilie Gamelin was visible and alive is Sister Therese. Sister Therese is survived by her sister, Evangeline Nolkemper of Hartford, Maine; and brothers, John Richard of Cape Canaveral, Fla., and Gerard Richard of Cocoa Beach, Fla. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday July 8, 2015, at 2 p.m. in Our Lady of Providence Residence, 47 West Spring St., Winooski, with Monsignor Richard Lavalley officiating. Interment will follow in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Winooski. Arrangements are by the LaVigne Funeral and Cremation Service, 132 Main St. in Winooski. Online condolences may be sent to www.lavignefuneralhome.com.