Sister Alida Houde (Sister Mary Irene of the Sacred Heart), 103 years old, of the Sisters of Holy Cross, died July 14th, 2006 at the Holy Cross Health Center, 357 Island Pond Rd., Manchester, NH.
She was born in Nashua, NH on July 5th, 1903, the daughter of Joseph and Clara (Deschamps) Houde. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Cross in 1925 and made her final profession in 1932. She served in the Congregation for 81 years.
Sister Alida earned a BS from Mount St. Mary College, Hooksett, NH, and an MA from Boston College.
In her early years in the Congregation, Sister Alida taught Business courses under the direction of the Sisters of Holy Cross in Nashua, Manchester, Rochester, and Somersworth, NH.
From 1946 to 1954, Sister Alida was Supervisor of Studies for the schools in the New England area under the direction of the Sisters of Holy Cross.
In February 1954, Sister Alida was named in charge of the first Postulants that entered the Sisters of Holy Cross in Manchester, NH.
From 1957 to 1967, she served as Councilor-Secretary in the General Administration of the Sisters of Holy Cross in St. Laurent, Quebec.
Sister Alida retired to St. George Manor, Manchester, NH in 1970 and served for twenty-three years as bursar. At the time of her death she resided at Holy Cross Health Center, Manchester, NH.
Family members include nephews and nieces.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Monday July 17, 2006 in the chapel at St. George Manor. Burial followed in St. Augustin Cemetery, Manchester.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of Holy Cross Development Fund, c/o Sisters of Holy Cross, 377 Island Pond Road, Manchester, NH 03109.