Sister
Cecile Bouchard, RSM (Sr. Mary Leo), 95, of the Sisters of Mercy of
the Americas, died at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester,
Vt., on March 24, 2025. Sr. Cecile was born in Burlington, Vt., on
August 26, 1929, the daughter of Jeanne (Simard) and George Leo
Bouchard. She attended Nazareth School and was a graduate of
Cathedral High School. She received her BS in business from Trinity
College in Burlington and an MS in education and administration at
Saint Michael’s College in Colchester.
Sr.
Cecile entered the Sisters of Mercy on August 15, 1948, and professed
her vows on August 19, 1951. She taught and served in parochial
school education for several years throughout the state of Vermont:
at Cathedral High School and Christ the King School in Burlington,
St. Michael’s School in Montpelier, St. Monica’s School in Barre,
and Rice High School in South Burlington.
Sister
held administrative roles as principal of St. Monica’s School for
eight years, principal of Christ the King School for 12 years, and
business teacher and administrative director at Rice High School for
19 years. She also served her community in local leadership roles for
many years.
Until
her recent illness, Sr. Cecile was active throughout her life. Some
of her interests and activities included decorating for special
celebrations and holidays, serving as sacristan, sewing projects,
dusting and cleaning, organizing gatherings, and outdoor walking. We
all benefited from her attention to detail. Many visitors and guests
experienced Sr. Cecile’s warm hospitality at Mount Saint Mary and
Our Lady of Providence and previously as innkeeper at Camp Marycrest.
Her artistic talent emerged as she joined the weekly painting classes
offered by the Sisters of Mercy.
She
is survived by her brothers Raymond “Leonard” Bouchard (Claire)
and Brother Fred Bouchard, S.C.; sister-in-law, Patty Bouchard; and
by her sisters in religion, the Sisters of Mercy. She was predeceased
by her parents, Jeanne (Simard) and George Leo Bouchard; brothers
Jerome Bouchard, Brother Adrian Bouchard, S.C., and Daniel Bouchard;
and sisters, Mariette (Bouchard) Martin and Sister Claire Bouchard,
RSM.
We
extend our prayers and deepest gratitude to the caring staff at Our
Lady of Providence, the University of Vermont hospice team, the staff
at the McClure Miller Respite House and her doctors, for their loving
care of Sister Cecile.
A
mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 5,
2025, 11 a.m., in the Sacred Heart Chapel at Mater Christi School
(former Mount St. Mary Convent), 100 Mansfield Ave., Burlington, VT,
with visiting hours prior to the funeral mass, from 10 to 10:50 a.m.
The burial will take place following the funeral in the Mount Saint
Mary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the
Sisters of Mercy in support of their ministerial works: Sisters of
Mercy, Attn: Sister Laura Della Santa, 356 Mountain View Rd.,
Colchester, VT 05446.
Arrangements
have been entrusted to Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To
send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.
This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2025.