Sr. Jeanne Gourdeau

PETERSHAM -- Sister Jeanne Gourdeau, a Sister of the Assumption from Petersham, passed away peacefully in her sleep early Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. On Nov. 10, 2009, Sister Jeanne would have celebrated her 102nd birthday. Born in Salem, she was the daughter of Jules and Alice (Bernier) Gourdeau. She was professed as a Sister of the Assumption for 80 years and had received the religious name of Sister Saint Jules. Her work in education was mostly as a middle-grade teacher and elementary school principal in Hudson Falls and Glens Falls, N.Y., Bristol, Conn., and Salem, Chicopee Falls and Brockton. After her departure from diocesan education, she enjoyed chauffeuring for her companions at Assumption Residence. Sister Jeanne is survived by nephews and nieces and her beloved companions in the religious congregation of the Sisters of the Assumption. The visiting hours for the wake at Assumption Residence will be from 2 to 7 p.m. today, Sept. 28, with a prayer service at 3:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the chapel of Assumption Residence at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, followed by internment in the East Street Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of the Assumption Retirement Fund, 211 N. Main St., Petersham, Mass., 01366. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home, 137 Main St., Athol. $(document).ready(function(){ });