In Loving Memory

Sr. Claire LaRoche January 30, 1928~May 1, 2018

Sr. Claire LaRocheSister Claire LaRoche (Sr. Claire Regis) SUSC died peacefully at Mary Immaculate Nursing/Restorative Center, Lawrence on May 1 at the age of 90. The daughter of the late J. Arthur and Juliette (Lajeunesse) LaRoche, Sr. Claire was born in Cambridge, MA. Her brothers Charles, Gerard, Paul, Raymond and Roland, and her sister, Sister Pauline LaRoche, SUSC pre-deceased her. She is survived by her sister Madeleine (LaRoche) Musetti and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

After graduation from the former Notre Dame High School, Cambridge, Sr. Claire entered the Holy Union Sisters on August 15, 1945, following her sister Pauline, who had entered in 1942. She attended Sacred Heart School of Education and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Catholic Teachers College, Providence. She received a Masters in Religious Education from Boston College.
Sr. Claire’s educational ministry spanned over fifty years. She taught in elementary schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She served as principal and superior at Sacred Heart Parish, Lawrence and superior at Rose Hawthorne Convent, Concord. She taught French and Religion at the former Sacred Heart High School, Lawrence. From 1977 to 1998 she was Director of Religious Education in her home parish of Notre Dame, Cambridge. When she retired to St. Mary’s Villa, Lowell in 1998, she continued service to the former parishioners of Notre Dame and tutored students at the Holy Union Multicultural Center.

Sr. Claire moved to Mary Immaculate Residence in Lawrence in 2006. Ill
health necessitated a transfer to the Nursing/Restorative Care Center in 2014. Sr. Claire celebrated seventy years as a Holy Union Sister in 2015.

The staff at Mary Immaculate to whom Claire was always gracious, as well as her Holy Union Sisters are saddened by her sudden death. Srs. Rita and Ruth Beaudoin, long-time friends and attentive caregivers, also mourn her. Sr. Claire was born into a large family rich in artistic and musical talents. She was an accomplished violinist who entertained the sisters at community celebrations accompanied by Sr. Claire Bergeron. She proudly displayed the artwork of several of her brothers in her apartment.

The wake, prayer vigil and Mass of Christian Burial took place May 8 at St. William Church, 1351 Main Street, Tewksbury, MA. Burial followed at St. Bernard Cemetery, Concord. Funeral arrangements are by McGaffigan Funeral Home, Pepperell, MA. Donations in Sr. Claire’s memory may be made to Holy Union Sisters Mission Advancement Office, P.O. Box 410, Milton, MA 02186.

Many of the readings during this Easter season speak of peace.
In the Gospel for May 1, the day God called Claire home,
Jesus told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”
May we who mourn her be consoled in the sure knowledge
that Claire now enjoys this peace eternally.