Gilman & Valade Logo

"A Century of Dedication, Compassion & Guidance"

Call 24 hours (860) 928-7723
  • Home
  • About
    • Gilman & Valade Difference
    • History
    • Our Staff
    • Locations
      • Gilman Funeral Home
      • Valade Funeral Home
      • Park Tribute Center
  • Services
    • Burial
    • Cremation
    • Planning Ahead
    • Definitions
    • Personalization
  • Helpful Info
    • Veterans Benefits
    • Title 19
    • Social Security Benefits
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Funeral Etiquette
    • To Do List
  • Obituaries
  • Pre-planning
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • If A Death Has Occurred

Sr. Cécile Cusson, DHS

Published: March 22, 2022 Leave A Condolence

Cecile Cusson webobitphoto

1927 – 2022

Windham – Sr. Cécile Cusson, 94, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died on Saturday March 19, 2022 at St Joseph Living Center in Windham, CT.

Cécile Germaine Cusson was born in 1927 in Putnam, CT., the daughter of Major and Ida (Beaudouin) Cusson. She entered religious life in 1943 at the Holy Spirit Provincial House in Putnam and made her religious profession there in 1947. She was then known as Sr. Cécile de l’Eucharistie.

In 1953 Sr. Cécile studied at Holy Ghost Hospital in Cambridge, MA and earned an LPN diploma. In October of 1955, her dream to become a missionary in Africa was realized when she was missioned to the Republic of Cameroon. There she served as a nurse in several DHS missions for the next 46 years. Her translation of prayers and hymns in 1964 represented the first attempt to put the Mundang dialect into written form. In Kaélé, Sr. Cecile established a rehabilitation center for victims of polio. With crutches and braces made of any available material along with patience and love, she was able to straighten limbs and teach young children to walk again, earning her the name “Mother of the Twisted Limbs”. Her success won her international notice, and she was a speaker at several international symposiums.

Sr. Cécile returned to the United States in January of 2001. In May of that year, she was missioned to Selma, AL and worked as a pharmacy assistant in Pineapple, AL. Retiring in 2016, she returned to the Provincial House in Putnam before joining the community at St. Joseph Living Center in 2019.

She is survived by the Daughters of the Holy Spirit spiritual family – her Sisters in community, the Consecrated Seculars and the Associates. She is also survived by her brothers Robert “Chief” Cusson of Chaplin, CT and Theodore Cusson of Manchester, NH, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Leonard and Victor and sisters Anita Ducat and Margaret Auger.

Calling hours will be on Saturday March 26, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Corpus Christi Parish / St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St., Willimantic, CT with a prayer service at 10:15 AM. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM followed by burial in St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam at 2:00 PM. Masks are required at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to DHS Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 497, Putnam, CT 06260. Services have been entrusted to the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT.

Offer Condolence for the family of Sr. Cécile Cusson, DHS

Print Obituary & Condolences Print Obituary & Condolences

Filed Under: Obituaries Tagged With: Calling hours, Cremation, Crematorium, crematory, CT, Daughters of the Holy Spirit, DHS, Funeral, Gilman & Valade, Gilman Funeral Home, Holy Spirit Provincial House, Park Tribute Center, Putnam, st. Joseph Living Center, St. Mary Cemetery, Windham

Condolence Messages

  1. Todd Dexter

    March 22, 2022 at 6:59 pm

    Please accept my sincere condolences.

Leave Your Condolence

Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Order Flowers

flowers

Order flowers quick and easy through our local florist, Garden Gate

Share This Obituary

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Get Obits On Your Phone

Use your Smartphone to scan the QR Code below to access this page on your phone.
Copyright © 2023 |All Rights Reserved. | info@gilmanandvalade.com
Gilman Funeral and Cremation Service, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260 United States Phone: (860) 928-7723
Valade Funeral & Cremation Service, 23 Main St., North Grosvenor Dale, CT 06255 United States Phone: (860) 928-7724
Park Tribute Center, 25 Highland Dr., Putnam, CT 06260 United States Phone: (860) 928-7723

Contact | Directions | Obituaries | Funeral Pre-Planning | Site Map | Putnam Cremation and Funeral Services
Website by FRM Websites

Selected Independent Funeral HomesFuneral and Memorial Information Council