Sister Pauline Bonenfant, OP

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Pauline Bonenfant, OP, who died on Saturday September 9, at Bolster Heights Residential Care Facility in Auburn at the age of 99 and after 77 years of religious life.

Sister Pauline was born Therese, daughter of Evariste and Mary (Deschesnes) Bonenfant on December 6, 1917, in Lewiston.  She began her Christian journey at Saints Peter and Paul Church. She entered the Dominican Sisters in Valleyfield, Canada, in 1938, made her temporary vows in 1940 and her final vows in 1945.
 
Sister Pauline served as an educator most of her life, in Staten Island, NY, and Lewiston. She touched many of her students’ lives by her gentle, understanding and loving spirit.

Her community responsibilities included that of local prioress and bursar in Brookline, MA, an establishment which included the Provincial House, a private school, the Formation House and a boarding house for student sisters from other religious communities.  When Sr. Pauline returned to Lewiston in 1975, she continued as local prioress of her community while teaching at St. Peter School.  Sr. Pauline retired from teaching in 1989 at the age of 72.

In her later years, Sister Pauline became a resident of Bolster Residential Care Facility where she became acquainted and present to the other residents and staff.  It was not unusual to find Sr. Pauline praying by the bedside of a resident or encouraging and counseling staff members who confided in her.

Sister Pauline is survived by nieces, nephews, and members of her Dominican community.
 
Besides her parents she was predeceased by her brothers, Leopold, Robert and Marcel, and her sisters, Sr. Celine (Germaine) and Jeannette.

Sister was buried at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Please pray for her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed.