Sister Mary Annunciation, OP

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sr. Mary Annunciation, OP (Therese Marcotte) who passed away on Tuesday, May 5.  Sister was a member of the Dominican community for seventy years.

She was born in Lewiston, Maine, on May 14, 1923 to Arthur and Flavienne (Ouimet) Marcotte. She was baptized and confirmed at Saint Peter and Paul Parish and received her elementary education in that parish.  Later, she was a student at the Ave Maria Academy where she received her high school diploma.  In 1943, she joined the Dominican sisters and spent two years in Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada, for her initial formation.

In 1945, she returned to Lewiston to pursue her studies in business and education and to begin her teaching career at Saint Peter and Paul School.  In 1947, she was sent to Mortefontaine, France, to help found the new motherhouse, to begin her French studies, and to teach at the Dominican school there.

After 10 years in Europe, Sister Mary returned to Lewiston as sub-prioress of our Lewiston convent.  In 1959, she was named formation directress for the Dominican house of formation in Brookline, Massachusetts.  In 1962, she received her master’s degree in French from Fordham University.  In that same year, when the congregation established an international novitiate, she was sent to the motherhouse in Rome as formation assistant, sub-prioress of the community, and teacher at St. Dominic’s Institute.

After five additional years in Europe, Sister Mary returned to the United States and was assigned to Staten Island, New York, where she became principal of St. Rita’s School and prioress of the Dominican community.  She fulfilled those roles in Staten Island until her retirement in 1998.  To recognize her contribution to St. Rita’s school, the parish dedicated an early childhood playground to her.  During her years in the United States, Sister Mary served the province as provincial councilor, a position she filled with a wonderful spirit of service, especially as secretary and archivist.  A few years after her retirement from St. Rita’s, she returned to the Maine area.  She was a member of our Maine community and lived in Sabattus until 2009 where she moved to Bolster Residential Care Center in Auburn.

Sister Mary’s many interests include peace and justice issues, cooking, reading and classical music.

She is survived by her sister Madeleine Marcotte and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and her sister Constance Beaudette.

May her soul and the soul of all the faithful departed rest in peace.  Amen.  May her religious and natural families be consoled in their loss