Obituary Notice
Sister Gertrude Boucher
Sister Hélène-de-la-Croix
entered Eternal Life on March 15, 2010
at age 96 years
in religious life 71 years
+ 2032
“Bless the Lord, my soul; forget not all his benefits.”
(Psalm 102:2)
To recall the memory of Sister Gertrude Boucher is to see a woman who lived her life fully, utilizing all the gifts with which God had blessed her.
Born in Lowell, MA in the United States, on February 1, 1914, the second child of Édouard and Hélène (Lemay) Boucher, her birth caused no little anxiety, since the first child had died prematurely. But, this child was healthy and would soon find herself with two younger sisters.
Mr. Boucher was a hard worker, from French-Canadian descent, but naturalized an American citizen. These Christian parents gave a place of honor to devotional practices: daily mass, Sunday Vespers, parish devotions, recitation of the Rosary. This last practice was replaced at times by the recitation of the 40 Our Fathers to the delight of the girls whose time on their knees was somewhat shortened.
Gertrude was baptized and made her First Communion at St. Joseph Church in Lowell, but was confirmed in the newly established parish of Ste Jeanne d’Arc in 1924. She began her primary schooling at Ste Jeanne d’Arc School with the Grey Nuns of the Cross for the first four years. She then transferred to St. Joseph School with the same Sisters to complete her elementary education. The opening of a Catholic secondary school in 1928 allowed her to pursue her education at a time of economic depression when most young girls were sent by their parents to work in the textile mills. Again under the direction of the Grey Nuns of the Cross, Gertrude succeeded very well and obtained her diploma “cum laude”.
At the end of her studies, she spoke to her parents about an attraction for the religious life, but her father advised her to wait a while. Closely guarding her secret, the adolescent launched into every aspect of life at every level - parish, civic, social: youth gatherings, drama groups, sports, dating. During this time she continued her post-secondary studies in evening classes and taught at Ste Jeanne d’Arc School. At the age of 22, she made her decision and entered the Hurdman’s Bridge Novitiate.
Shortly after her profession in 1938, Sister Hélène-de-la-Croix was sent to teach Grade 9 at Holy Cross School in Ogdensburg, NY. She would return to Ottawa the following year and teach the English class at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School for six years. In 1945, she returned to her Alma Mater in Lowell as a teacher of English and Latin, also serving as school librarian. She became headmistress of the same school in 1955 until 1968, overseeing the merger of this all-girl school with the secondary school of the Marist Brothers to become a co-educational institution.
Obtaining her Bachelor’s degree from Rivier College in Nashua, NH, as well as a Master’s in Library Science from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, and having studied School Administration at Catholic University in Washington, DC, Sister Gertrude felt more than ready to undertake any responsibility entrusted to her through obedience. It is especially as a librarian at St. Joseph School in Haverhill, MA, that Sister Gertrude found herself in her true element and serving there for 22 years, retired at the age of 75.
For her, this did not mean a time of inactivity. She offered her services part-time at the local parish where she applied herself to learning the use of computers. Twice a week, she would go to the Civic Center to teach literacy courses to adults or tutor persons preparing to take the High School Equivalency examinations.
The Charismatic Movement drew her interest, and for 10 years she participated in their prayer meetings, helped train leaders, and became a supportive presence to the members. She became Minister of the Eucharist both at the parish and in nursing homes in the city.
An artistic talent which she had discovered early in life and which she always continued to develop now found a special place in these more leisurely years. She joined the Haverhill Art Association and participated in its annual exhibits show-casing her oil paintings. Wherever she went, Sister Gertrude made friends and left her mark as a good and caring listener.
In 1994, fully aware that the years were taking their toll, she accepted to move to St. Joseph Residence. In spite of some health problems, she could be seen in the outdoor swing reading for a blind sister, or visiting the residents at D’Youville Manor, composing the necrologies for deceased companions, crocheting hats, mittens and new born baby sets, all the while helping in the dining room or at the receptionist’s desk. Never one to be idle, she always found a way to be of service to others.
Macular degeneration deprived her from reading as much as she wished, but she subscribed to an audio program for the blind and regularly received cassettes of recorded books. Her interest in all community activities, in local and world news, kept her abreast of what was happening around her and provided ample matter for her prayer. Her sense of humor never left her, even to asking if God had forgotten her as the years mounted way beyond 90. Everything caught her interest, even to the point of writing to ex-president Bush voicing her disapproval of the declaration of war in Iraq. On a small piece of paper, with a felt tip pen, Sister Gertrude had written, “Aging is allowing oneself to be recycled!” She lived this fully!
In 1994, she wrote the following prayer, inspired by a picture of balloons floating freely in a sunlit sky:
“Oh! The joy of being loosened from attachment that holds one captive –
- free to love you, Lord, with a heart that knows its poverty;
- free to hope with a sense of belonging to you;
- free to believe with the assurance of your gentle touch;
- free to let go and to soar higher and higher into the security of insecurity.
Only you, Lord, can help me view the world from this vantage point, a world hurting and in need of healing. Thanks, Lord, for loosening my tethered self. Thanks for your gift given to me to give away.”
