Sister Cecile Duquette, sco

Sister Cecile Duquette (Cecile-de-la-Croix), 98, a member of the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa for 77 years, died at d’Youville Senior Care Center on October 9, 2024 after a period of declining health. 

She was born in Graniteville, VT, the daughter of Adrien and Diana (Roy) Duquette, the eldest of 13 children.  The family moved to Lowell, and Cecile was educated in Lowell schools: at St. Joseph Elementary and St. Joseph High Schools.  She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa (Grey Nuns of the Cross) in 1945, and pursued her education obtaining a BA in Education from Rivier College in Nashua, NH and an MA in French from Assumption College in Worcester, MA, as well as a Type A certificate in School Administration from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

Her teaching career took her from Lowell to Ogdensburg, NY to Lafayette, LA to Haverhill, MA to St. Joseph High School, Lowell from 1947 to 1989.  Always the teacher, she then conducted classes in English as a Second Language (ESL) and calligraphy classes at Lowell University in evening sessions.  In 2000, she accepted a challenge to travel to Japan where she undertook the upgrading in the English language for the Japanese Sisters of her Congregation.  Upon her return to Lowell she assisted in the Social Work Department at d’Youville Senior Care Center, officially retiring in 2018.

She is survived by two sisters: Rita Barry and Annette Knust of Lowell, a brother, Adrien of Lowell and several nieces and nephews.

She was the sister of the late Armand, Joseph Eugene, Maurice and Louis Duquette, as well as her sisters Yvette Clement, and Jacqueline Gally.

Her wake will be held at TYNGSBOROUGH FUNERAL HOME, 4 Cassaway Drive, Tyngsborough, MA on Tuesday, October 15, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM.  Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the chapel of d’Youville Senior Care Center, 981 Varnum Avenue, Lowell on Wednesday, October 16, at 10:00 AM.  FOR THOSE ATTENDING HER FUNERAL MASS, KINDLY MEET AT D'YOUVILLE. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Chelmsford. Memorial donations may be made to D’Youville Senior Care Center, 981 Varnum Avenue, Lowell, MA  01854-1913 or to a charity of your choice.

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