The Lord called Marie Irene Sirois to everlasting life on April 14, 2017. She was predeceased by her loving parents, Lorenzo and Victoria (Jean) Fecteau; her former husband, Romeo Sirois; her sister, Cecile (Fecteau) Galarneau; and her brother, Paul Fecteau.
Marie was born on April 21, 1934 in her parents’ home. As a child, she assisted her Aunt Yvonne (Fecteau) Comeau in her millinery shop by making bank deposits. Marie was honored by her aunt’s trust. In her youth, Marie was dedicated as a Child of Mary. She graduated from St. Theresa’s High School having been a class president her junior and senior years and a high honor student all four years. After training at St. Joseph Hospital in Lowell, she worked as a Medical Laboratory Technician at Clover Leaf Hospital and at McGowan Nursing home.
Marie married Romeo on her twenty-first birthday and had five children. She was supportive in her children’s lives as an active PTA member, a Girl Scout leader, a Boy Scout den mother, and a faithful attendee of the children’s dance and sport activities. During those years, she developed her lifelong love of photography with a focus on family, nature and religious themes. She enjoyed a wide range of music genres, learnt ballroom dancing and eventually became a country line dance judge.
After devoting her life to raising her five children, Marie became a manager of both the Ames Department Store’s cafeteria and The Orange Bowl.
In her fifties, Marie earned an Associate’s Degree in mental health technology at Northern Essex Community College, graduated magna cum laude and received the President’s Award. She achieved a bachelor degree in social work with a minor in psychology from Salem State University and graduated with honors. She served as an adult residential councilor at the St. Vincent adult residence house in Haverhill, volunteered at the Lazarus House in Lawrence for several years, and helped on a domestic abuse hotline.
Loving the warmth, Marie had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii for her 25th Wedding Anniversary and her 70th Birthday. In her retirement years, Marie moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, enjoying the Garden Club, Red Hat Society, shuffle board, the Crafters’ Club and trips to Busch Gardens.
Marie was best known by her family and friends as a devout Catholic. She was a long standing member of the Third Order of Mary at Our Lady of Good Council Parish and Holy Family Parish in St. Petersburg, Florida and a Eucharistic minister and a lecturer. Marie’s constant example of patience, tolerance and faith provided her children with stability, endurance and direction.
Marie’s memory will be fondly cherished by her sister, Annette and her husband, Thomas Solomon of Salisbury, MA and her sister-in-law, Cecile (Galarneau) Fecteau of Silver Spring, MD. She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her daughter, Michelle, and her husband, Guy D’Ambrosio of Methuen; her son, Ronald and his wife, Linda (Lavigne) Sirois of Bedford, NH; her daughter, Carmelle Sirois of Methuen and her long standing friend, James Fleck of Webster; her daughter, Sister Marie Irene, S.C.M.C. of Baltic, CT; and her son, Roger Sirois of Nashua, NH. Marie leaves behind nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren, Godchildren Joanne (Solomon) Hall, Paula Rodgers and John Sirois as well as several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the Lawrence Elder Care Services for their care and generosity; Meals on Wheels for the warm meals, Mary Immaculate Nursing and Restorative Center for their care, love, spiritual guidance and for keeping her warm and safe; Nevins Adult Day Health Center for their activities; and Merrimack Valley Hospice for their help and support. You were all important people in Marie’s last years of life. Thank you.
To honor Marie’s final wishes and her devotion to Mary, attendees of the wake and funeral are encouraged to wear her favorite color, blue.
Marie would like donations to be made in her name to Sisters of Charity, 54 West Main Street, P.O. Box 691, Baltic, CT 06330. May God bless you, Marie.
Friends and family are respectfully invited to calling hours on Thursday, April 20, 2017 from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence, St., Methuen MA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for her everlasting life on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. at Our Family of Good Counsel (St. Theresa Church), 22 Plymouth Street, Methuen. Fr. Raymond Fecteau and Fr. Chris Casey to officiate. Burial will follow at the St. Mary Immaculate Conception Cemetery, 29 Barker Street, Lawrence, MA. For directions and online guestbook, please visit the funeral home website, www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the Sirois Family.