Yvonne Fortin, 85, nun for 61 years
June 10, 2007
LAWRENCE -- Sister Yvonne Fortin, a Grey Nun committed to serving the needy of Lawrence and Lowell, especially children and the elderly, died May 19 at Mary Immaculate Nursing in Lawrence. She was 85 and in her 61st year as a sister.
Her lifelong generosity demonstrated her dedication to her faith, said Sister Irene Harper, a fellow Grey Nun.
"She displayed generosity in everything she did," Sister Harper said. "If anyone needed help, she was there. She followed the charism of St. Marguerite d'Youville, the foundress of the Grey Nuns, and followed it to the utmost. She was an inspiration to us all."
Born and raised in Lawrence, she first became close to the Good Shepherd Nuns when she was 3, after being placed at St. Anne's Orphanage in Lawrence.
"It was at St. Anne's the seeds of her vocation were planted," said Sister Harper, who had known Sister Fortin since the 1940s.
After graduating from St. Anne's at 16, she went to live and work at the Protectory of Mary Immaculate in Lawrence, now Mary Immaculate Health Care/Services, which was staffed by the Grey Nuns. In 1946, she entered the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, Grey Nuns, in Cambridge.
Sister Fortin made it her mission to focus on child care and elder care. For eight years, she tended to infants and children at various institutions, including St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua in pediatrics, the Protectory of Mary Immaculate, and St. Joseph Orphanage in Nashua as a kindergarten teacher.
Her longtime friend, Sister Theresa Rousseau, said children responded to her contagious smile.
"She was a people person and adored children," Sister Rousseau said.
"She was oriented toward helping people in whatever they needed. Her smile made a difference in everyone's life."
A comment sent to them by a former employee of Sister Fortin resonated with the Grey Nuns: "I imagine all those who knew Sister Fortin would share her great smile as she was a kind hearted soul. I enjoyed just watching her for what she was; a lover of people, a lover of music, a lover of life, and a devoted Grey Nun."
The Grey Nuns called upon Sister Fortin to work with the elderly at Holy Ghost Hospital in Cambridge, now Youville Hospital; the Provincial House in Lexington, now Youville Place Assisted Living Residence; and Maryvale Rest Home in Lexington. Sister Harper said Sister Fortin's love and devotion to the elderly began a new chapter in her life of service to others.
In the 1950s, the Protectory of Mary Immaculate began serving only the elderly and in 1954 was licensed as a nursing home.
In 1970, Sister Fortin returned to Mary Immaculate, this time to manage the laundry service and assist in the care of the elderly. For 31 years, she delivered clothing and blankets to patients. She always made the time to stop to talk with patients, Sister Harper said.
Sister Fortin leaves a niece, Barbara DesRoche of Methuen, and a nephew, Andrew Fortin of Newburyport.
A funeral Mass was said May 23 in the Youville Place Chapel in Lexington.
Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.
Printed in The Boston Globe from May 19 to May 31, 2007
June 10, 2007
LAWRENCE -- Sister Yvonne Fortin, a Grey Nun committed to serving the needy of Lawrence and Lowell, especially children and the elderly, died May 19 at Mary Immaculate Nursing in Lawrence. She was 85 and in her 61st year as a sister.
Her lifelong generosity demonstrated her dedication to her faith, said Sister Irene Harper, a fellow Grey Nun.
"She displayed generosity in everything she did," Sister Harper said. "If anyone needed help, she was there. She followed the charism of St. Marguerite d'Youville, the foundress of the Grey Nuns, and followed it to the utmost. She was an inspiration to us all."
Born and raised in Lawrence, she first became close to the Good Shepherd Nuns when she was 3, after being placed at St. Anne's Orphanage in Lawrence.
"It was at St. Anne's the seeds of her vocation were planted," said Sister Harper, who had known Sister Fortin since the 1940s.
After graduating from St. Anne's at 16, she went to live and work at the Protectory of Mary Immaculate in Lawrence, now Mary Immaculate Health Care/Services, which was staffed by the Grey Nuns. In 1946, she entered the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, Grey Nuns, in Cambridge.
Sister Fortin made it her mission to focus on child care and elder care. For eight years, she tended to infants and children at various institutions, including St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua in pediatrics, the Protectory of Mary Immaculate, and St. Joseph Orphanage in Nashua as a kindergarten teacher.
Her longtime friend, Sister Theresa Rousseau, said children responded to her contagious smile.
"She was a people person and adored children," Sister Rousseau said.
"She was oriented toward helping people in whatever they needed. Her smile made a difference in everyone's life."
A comment sent to them by a former employee of Sister Fortin resonated with the Grey Nuns: "I imagine all those who knew Sister Fortin would share her great smile as she was a kind hearted soul. I enjoyed just watching her for what she was; a lover of people, a lover of music, a lover of life, and a devoted Grey Nun."
The Grey Nuns called upon Sister Fortin to work with the elderly at Holy Ghost Hospital in Cambridge, now Youville Hospital; the Provincial House in Lexington, now Youville Place Assisted Living Residence; and Maryvale Rest Home in Lexington. Sister Harper said Sister Fortin's love and devotion to the elderly began a new chapter in her life of service to others.
In the 1950s, the Protectory of Mary Immaculate began serving only the elderly and in 1954 was licensed as a nursing home.
In 1970, Sister Fortin returned to Mary Immaculate, this time to manage the laundry service and assist in the care of the elderly. For 31 years, she delivered clothing and blankets to patients. She always made the time to stop to talk with patients, Sister Harper said.
Sister Fortin leaves a niece, Barbara DesRoche of Methuen, and a nephew, Andrew Fortin of Newburyport.
A funeral Mass was said May 23 in the Youville Place Chapel in Lexington.
Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.
Printed in The Boston Globe from May 19 to May 31, 2007
Yvonne Fortin, 85, nun for 61 years
June 10, 2007
LAWRENCE -- Sister Yvonne Fortin, a Grey Nun committed to serving the needy of Lawrence and Lowell, especially children and the elderly, died May 19 at Mary Immaculate Nursing in Lawrence. She was 85 and in her 61st year as a sister.
Her lifelong generosity demonstrated her dedication to her faith, said Sister Irene Harper, a fellow Grey Nun.
"She displayed generosity in everything she did," Sister Harper said. "If anyone needed help, she was there. She followed the charism of St. Marguerite d'Youville, the foundress of the Grey Nuns, and followed it to the utmost. She was an inspiration to us all."
Born and raised in Lawrence, she first became close to the Good Shepherd Nuns when she was 3, after being placed at St. Anne's Orphanage in Lawrence.
"It was at St. Anne's the seeds of her vocation were planted," said Sister Harper, who had known Sister Fortin since the 1940s.
After graduating from St. Anne's at 16, she went to live and work at the Protectory of Mary Immaculate in Lawrence, now Mary Immaculate Health Care/Services, which was staffed by the Grey Nuns. In 1946, she entered the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, Grey Nuns, in Cambridge.
Sister Fortin made it her mission to focus on child care and elder care. For eight years, she tended to infants and children at various institutions, including St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua in pediatrics, the Protectory of Mary Immaculate, and St. Joseph Orphanage in Nashua as a kindergarten teacher.
Her longtime friend, Sister Theresa Rousseau, said children responded to her contagious smile.
"She was a people person and adored children," Sister Rousseau said.
"She was oriented toward helping people in whatever they needed. Her smile made a difference in everyone's life."
A comment sent to them by a former employee of Sister Fortin resonated with the Grey Nuns: "I imagine all those who knew Sister Fortin would share her great smile as she was a kind hearted soul. I enjoyed just watching her for what she was; a lover of people, a lover of music, a lover of life, and a devoted Grey Nun."
The Grey Nuns called upon Sister Fortin to work with the elderly at Holy Ghost Hospital in Cambridge, now Youville Hospital; the Provincial House in Lexington, now Youville Place Assisted Living Residence; and Maryvale Rest Home in Lexington. Sister Harper said Sister Fortin's love and devotion to the elderly began a new chapter in her life of service to others.
In the 1950s, the Protectory of Mary Immaculate began serving only the elderly and in 1954 was licensed as a nursing home.
In 1970, Sister Fortin returned to Mary Immaculate, this time to manage the laundry service and assist in the care of the elderly. For 31 years, she delivered clothing and blankets to patients. She always made the time to stop to talk with patients, Sister Harper said.
Sister Fortin leaves a niece, Barbara DesRoche of Methuen, and a nephew, Andrew Fortin of Newburyport.
A funeral Mass was said May 23 in the Youville Place Chapel in Lexington.
Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.
Printed in The Boston Globe from May 19 to May 31, 2007
June 10, 2007
LAWRENCE -- Sister Yvonne Fortin, a Grey Nun committed to serving the needy of Lawrence and Lowell, especially children and the elderly, died May 19 at Mary Immaculate Nursing in Lawrence. She was 85 and in her 61st year as a sister.
Her lifelong generosity demonstrated her dedication to her faith, said Sister Irene Harper, a fellow Grey Nun.
"She displayed generosity in everything she did," Sister Harper said. "If anyone needed help, she was there. She followed the charism of St. Marguerite d'Youville, the foundress of the Grey Nuns, and followed it to the utmost. She was an inspiration to us all."
Born and raised in Lawrence, she first became close to the Good Shepherd Nuns when she was 3, after being placed at St. Anne's Orphanage in Lawrence.
"It was at St. Anne's the seeds of her vocation were planted," said Sister Harper, who had known Sister Fortin since the 1940s.
After graduating from St. Anne's at 16, she went to live and work at the Protectory of Mary Immaculate in Lawrence, now Mary Immaculate Health Care/Services, which was staffed by the Grey Nuns. In 1946, she entered the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, Grey Nuns, in Cambridge.
Sister Fortin made it her mission to focus on child care and elder care. For eight years, she tended to infants and children at various institutions, including St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua in pediatrics, the Protectory of Mary Immaculate, and St. Joseph Orphanage in Nashua as a kindergarten teacher.
Her longtime friend, Sister Theresa Rousseau, said children responded to her contagious smile.
"She was a people person and adored children," Sister Rousseau said.
"She was oriented toward helping people in whatever they needed. Her smile made a difference in everyone's life."
A comment sent to them by a former employee of Sister Fortin resonated with the Grey Nuns: "I imagine all those who knew Sister Fortin would share her great smile as she was a kind hearted soul. I enjoyed just watching her for what she was; a lover of people, a lover of music, a lover of life, and a devoted Grey Nun."
The Grey Nuns called upon Sister Fortin to work with the elderly at Holy Ghost Hospital in Cambridge, now Youville Hospital; the Provincial House in Lexington, now Youville Place Assisted Living Residence; and Maryvale Rest Home in Lexington. Sister Harper said Sister Fortin's love and devotion to the elderly began a new chapter in her life of service to others.
In the 1950s, the Protectory of Mary Immaculate began serving only the elderly and in 1954 was licensed as a nursing home.
In 1970, Sister Fortin returned to Mary Immaculate, this time to manage the laundry service and assist in the care of the elderly. For 31 years, she delivered clothing and blankets to patients. She always made the time to stop to talk with patients, Sister Harper said.
Sister Fortin leaves a niece, Barbara DesRoche of Methuen, and a nephew, Andrew Fortin of Newburyport.
A funeral Mass was said May 23 in the Youville Place Chapel in Lexington.
Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.
Printed in The Boston Globe from May 19 to May 31, 2007
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