Sr. Gertrude Demars
November 15, 1925 – December 11, 2009
Sr. Marie Gertrude Demars, 84, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died on Friday, December 11, at Holy Spirit Health Care Center in Putnam, CT where she had been in residence since September 2008.
Born Gertrude Rose Demars on November 15, 1925 in Tupper Lake, N.Y., she was the Daughter of Thomas and Marie (LePage) Demars. She entered religious life in 1943 and made her religious profession in 1947 at Holy Spirit Provincial House in Putnam, CT. She was then known as Sr. Beatrice Thomas.
Sr. Gertrude was a teacher for most of her religious life from 1947 to 1995 with assignments to Leominster, MA; Burlington, VT; Fitchburg, MA; Swanton, VT and Bridgeport, CT. In 1960, she was assigned to our Southern Missions in Alabama and served there between Gadsden and Anniston until 1975 when she was assigned to Tupper Lake, N.Y. In 1995, following the closing of Holy Ghost Academy there she remained in Tupper Lake and did Pastoral work at St. Alphonsus Parish until September of 2008.
She is survived by two sisters, Sr. Marie Gabrielle Demars of Holy Spirit Health Care Center in Putnam, and Mrs. Beulah McLear of Tupper Lake, N.Y.; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours in the Provincial House Chapel, 72 Church Street, Putnam, CT will be on Sunday, December 13, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 PM with a Prayer Service at 7:15pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Chapel on Monday, December 14, 2009 at 11:00 AM followed by burial at Saint Mary Cemetery in Putnam.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the DHS Retirement Fund, 72 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260 Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT. is in charge of arrangements.
theresa (terry) demars arnette
The times when the sisters came to Pensacola have always been special times in my life and I am very grateful for the wonderful memories.
Sarah (Sally) DeMars
We had good times visiting with Sister Gert and Sister Marie when they were visiting here in Pensacola. I’m glad I had the opportunity to meet them and know them as family members.
We had a wonderful visit with them in Tupper Lake several years ago and since then have enjoyed seeing them whenever they would visit Pensacola.