Sister Marie Francesca Cloutier, OP

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Maria Francesca (Marguerite) Cloutier who died on August 6, 2022, at the age of 81. Sister Francesca was born in 1939 to Laurent and Francoise (Bisson) Cloutier.

At the age of 17, she entered the Dominican Sisters of the Roman Congregation as a pre-postulant in Brookline, Mass., and became a postulant in February 1957. Not long after, she left for Mortefontaine, France for her novitiate training and on April 25, 1959, Sr. Francesca made her temporary vows in 1959, and she professed her final vows in 1962 in Lewiston.

Sister Francesca spent much of her life in teaching, including in Lewiston, Sabattus, Brookline, Mass., Rome, Italy, and Staten Island, N.Y., where she taught from 1969 to 1990. She was an extraordinary first-grade teacher and, before it became more commonplace, developed individualized lesson plans for her students, Sister Francesca loved children and was known for the way she connected with them, saying "I enjoyed teaching because I think it was a part of me."

In 1990, Sister Francesca pursued a second career, becoming a grief and bereavement counselor at University Hospital on Staten Island, as well as the director of pastoral care there. In 2003, she retired due to illness and moved back to Lewiston.

In memory of Sr. Francesca, donations may be made to Loaves and Fishes, 61 Lisbon Rd. in Sabattus, ME 04280.