Sr. Marie Jeanne Ducharme, PM, (Sr. Marie-Fidelis), 97, professor emerita for 38 years at Rivier College, Nashua, died March 21, 2011 at St. Joseph Residence, Manchester.
She was born in Manchester on October 6, 1913 to Eugene and Rose (Brien) Ducharme. She entered the Order of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary in Hudson in 1942, made her first profession in 1944 and her final profession in 1949.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in 1956 and a master’s degree in 1961 both in French from Rivier College in Nashua. She earned a doctorate in French from Laval University in Quebec in 1977.
Sr. Ducharme taught at elementary and secondary schools in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. She joined the faculty at Rivier College in 1962 and served as an instructor and professor. She also served as chairman of the French and Spanish departments and in retirement, as a consultant at the Regina Library.
In addition, she was editor of La Voix Francaise de Rivier and moderator of the Cercle Francais. She was a member and served on committees of various French professional organizations at both the regional and national level. In 1985 she was presented the Palmes Academiques in recognition of her dedication to French culture.
The family includes two sisters, Sr. Claire Ducharme, PM of Methuen, MA and Laurette Sullivan of Manchester; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday, March 23, 2011 in Resurrection Chapel of St. Marie Residence, 495 Mammoth Rd. Burial was in Presentation of Mary Cemetery, Hudson.
Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, Manchester assisted with arrangements.