Sr. Marie Pauline Collette, SUSC

Sister Marie Pauline Collette, SUSC died December 4, 2024, at The Jewish Home, Fall River, MA. Born in Pawtucket, RI on October 23, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Eva (Tougas) Collette. She was predeceased by her sisters, Jeanne Couture, Madeline Duval, Lucille Goyette, Pauline Cloeppner, Claire Johnson, Lorraine Whalen and brother Raymond Collette. In addition to her Holy Union Sisters, her sisters Elaine Laquerre, Rita Stegnicki, brother Richard Collette, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews survive her.

Sister Marie Pauline was educated by the Holy Union Sisters at St. Jean the Baptist Academy in Pawtucket. She attended the Sacred Heart School of Education and earned a B.S. in Education from Fordham University and an M.A. in French from Rivier College.

Sister Marie Pauline joined the Holy Union Sisters on September 3, 1946, and professed her final vows on August 22, 1955. At the time of her death, she had been a Holy Union Sister for seventy-eight years.

Early in her religious life, Sr. Marie Pauline taught in parish schools staffed by her community in Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and New York. She served as principal at Immaculate Conception School, Astoria, New York. She taught at the former Bishop Cassidy High School in Taunton and moved to administrative duties at high schools in New York. For several years she was the administrative assistant and secretary to the principal at Cathedral High School in New York City.

During this time, she resided at Immaculate Conception Convent, Astoria and was active in parish ministry, serving as Eucharistic Minister, visitor to homebound parishioners, and volunteer in the parish homeless shelter.

In 2016 Sr. Marie Pauline retired to Fall River, MA where she joined other Holy Union Sisters at Prosper, Fall River, formerly The Landmark. Declining health necessitated a move to the Fall River Jewish Home in 2022.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 10:00 AM in Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street, Fall River followed by burial in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Fall River. Visitation will be held December 12, 2024 from 9:00 to 9:40 AM in the church with a memorial prayer starting at 9:40 AM.

Donations in Sister Marie Pauline’s name may be made to the Mission Advancement Office of the Holy Union Sisters, 205 Bedford Street, Fall River MA.