Obituary of Frances M Doucette

Doucette (Theriault), Frances E. Marie - 90. New Ross passed away November 29, 2011 at Fisherman?¢s Memorial Hospital, Lunenburg. Born in Bridgewater on June 3, 1921 she was the daughter of the late Frank and Olive (Boylan) Theriault. She started school in Mahone Bay where her father was station master in the CN Railway Station. Because of her father?¢s work, the family moved many times, so, on leaving Mahone Bay, she continued her education in Yarmouth, then in Bridgewater where she graduated from High School. Following graduation she attended the Provincial Normal College (Later called the NS Teacher?¢s College). She taught in one-room-schools in Fraxville, Upper Branch and Lower Branch; in two department school?¢s in New Ross and Mill Road, all in Nova Scotia. She returned to Teacher?¢s College for another year (1951-1952) of education, and it was there she met her future husband Bernard Doucette. They were married in 1955, both taught in Liverpool until 1960 when Bernard went to Schefferville, Quebec, as a French Professor and Recreational Specialists. Frances and their young daughter Anne Marie followed him for one year, then came back and lived in Meteghan River, NS while housing accommodations were being built. However, Bernard was drowned from a boating accident at his work on July 12, 1962. Following his funeral in Saulnierville, NS, Frances and Anne Marie went to Dundas, Ontario, where she taught for one year, then back to Bridgewater to teach until her retirement in 1977. She also taught ballroom and folk dancing, as both she and her husband had been avid dancers and skaters. She attended St. Joseph?¢s Roman Catholic Church in Bridgewater. During her childhood, from age four, she spent most of her summers with her grandparents, the late Edmund and Mary Boylan, in New Ross, where she had many good friends and relatives, and she was a member of the St. Patrick?¢s Roman Catholic Church. She returned to New Ross to live after her retirement, continued her membership in St. Patrick?¢s Roman Catholic Church where she had many duties - lay reader, Eucharistic Minister, Sacristan, making schedules and visiting the sick and shut-ins. She was a member of many organizations - the Alumni Association of the NS Teachers College; the Retired Teacher?¢s Association of the NS Teachers Union; the Sacred Heart Auto League; the Society of the Little Flower (St. Therese); the Children of Mary; Les Dames de Ste. Anne; The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; the Grandmother?¢s Club of Ste. Anne; the Blessed Kateri Tekawitha Guild; the Horse Club of Canada and she has been a patron of the Ross Farm Museum in New Ross since its beginning in 1970. She had taken interest in exhibitions and horse shows throughout the Maritimes and Ontario, where she could always be found with her cameras pursuing one of her many hobbies - photography. Other hobbies included knitting, crocheting and sewing (making quilts and afghans); scrap booking, baking, reading, watching TV; gardening (both flowers and vegetable); and listening to music. She leaves to mourn her passing, her only child, Anne Marie McLeod and husband Darren, Halifax; her beloved grandson Neal Broome and his father Cameron Broome, New Ross; sister Celeste Meehan; sister-in-law Margaret Theriault and brother Frank (Wymann) Theriault, Bridgewater; a very special friend wha was like a son to her, Fr. Brian Murphy, Liverpool; Fr. Gordon McLean who was like a brother to her; many nieces and nephews; God-children and many friends. Besides her husband Bernard, she was predeceased by parents Frank and Olive Theriault, brothers Gerald and Jack (John), sister Mary, grandparents Edmund and Mary Boylan, Moses and Adele Theriault and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Visitation will be Thursday morning from 10-11 a.m. at St. Patrick?¢s Roman Catholic Church, New Ross from where The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am with Fr. Brian Murphy officiating. Interment will be in the St. Patrick?¢s Cemetery, Mill Road. A Reception will follow at the Golden Age Club. Donations in memory may be made to St. Patrick?¢s Cemetery Fund or the New Ross Fire Department. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Serenity Lindsay Funeral Home, 4935 Hwy #12, New Ross, Nova Scotia B0J 2M0. Donations or condolences may be forwarded to the above address or by visiting: www.serenitylindsayfuneralhome.ca .