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Sister Laurette DeChamplain SUSC Sister Albina MarieSeptember 24, 1922 – November 24, 2025
Sister Laurette DeChamplain SUSC, the oldest Holy Union Sister in the United States died at Clifton Nursing Center, Somerset, MA on November 24th. Born in Taunton, MA on September 24, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Albina (Marrotte) DeChamplain. In addition to her Holy Union Sisters, Sr. Laurette is survived by her sister Rena Marvel. She was predeceased by her sister Doris and nephew and niece, Karl and Marlene Marvel.As a student at St. Jacques School in Taunton, Laurette was taught by the Holy Union Sisters. When she was in fourth grade, Mother Marie Helena, the provincial superior who had led the first group of sisters to America, visited her classroom. Because of this visit, Laurette knew from that young age that she wanted to be a Holy Union Sister. After graduating from Taunton High School with highest honors, she entered the Holy Union Sisters on September 8, 1940, and pronounced her final vows on August 15, 1948. She attended the Sacred Heart School of Education, earned a B.A. in History from Catholic University, Washington, and an M.A. in French from Rivier College, New Hampshire.Sr. Laurette’s teaching ministry spanned over fifty years, beginning in junior high classes. She was a high school French and history teacher at the Academy of the Sacred Hearts, Fall River and the Holy Union Preparatory School, Tiverton, RI. She taught French and served as a part-time administrator at Holy Family High School, New Bedford. Her last years in the classroom were at Coyle and Cassidy High School, Taunton where she taught French from 1981 to 1994. In addition to her teaching duties, she served as the official scorer for several sports teams. In 1994 she began to volunteer in the Coyle and Cassidy Development Office and continued there until she retired in 2007. Although not an alumna, Sr. Laurette received the Coyle and Cassidy Alumni Alliance Service Award in 2005 in recognition of her valuable contribution to the school.She received grants for summer study at New York University and the University of Tours, France. For several summers she led her students on cultural tours of France. She served as a translator at several international meetings of Holy Union Sisters both in the United States and Europe and for one summer taught English to Holy Union Sisters in formation in Cameroon. She taught French culture and civilization in a summer program for sisters at the College of Notre Dame, Baltimore.In 2008 Sister Laurette joined the Holy Union Community at River Falls Senior Living, formerly The Landmark, in Fall River and resided there until a decline in health in 2021 necessitated a move to Clifton Nursing Center in Somerset. There she celebrated several milestones: her 101st, 102nd and 103rd birthdays, and most recently her eighty-fifth anniversary as a Holy Union Sister.Sister Laurette’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Jude the Apostle Church, Taunton on December 5 at 11 a.m. It will be preceded by a visitation at 9:30 and Memorial Prayer at 10:30. Burial at St. Francis Cemetery will follow. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Riendeau-Mulvey Funeral Home. Donations in Sister Laurette’s memory may be made to: The Holy Union Sisters’ Mission Advancement Office, 205 Bedford Street Fall River MA 02720.These factual details cannot convey the remarkable woman that Laurette was. From her first years as a French teacher, she expected her students to speak the language as well as learn the grammar and composition. This was not the usual practice at the time. In addition to her classroom duties, she was always available to offer extra help to her students after school. Her love and knowledge of sports led her to take on scorekeeping duties for different Coyle and Cassidy teams. Coaches knew they could count on Laurette for accurate scoring results. On the bus to away games, students often consulted her when doing their homework.At the age of sixty-six she volunteered to go to Cameroon for the summer to teach French to the Holy Union Sisters in formation. After she returned to the United States, many sisters urged Laurette to write about her experience. Always willing to respond to the requests of others, she wrote a long, detailed letter which made the sisters feel as though they were her companions on this journey. Laurette’s final accomplishment was to join the Century Club at Clifton where she celebrated her three birthdays over the one-hundred-year mark.
As we begin this season of patient waiting, we bid farewell to Laurette, who herself waited so patiently to enter eternal rest. May she be our model and companion during this Advent season.Sister Laurette’s biography can be downloaded at this link.Biography Sr. Laurette DeChamplain FINAL
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