Sr. Thérèse Surprenant, 79, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died on Thursday, December 15, 2005. She had resided at the Holy Spirit Provincial House since October, 2005.
Born Marie Thérèse Doris Surprenant on September 6, 1926 in Wauregan, CT, the daughter of the late Rodolphe and Yvette (Despatie) Surprenant, Sr. Thérèse entered religious life in 1944 and made her religious profession on August 16, 1948 at the Holy Spirit Provincial House in Putnam, CT. She was then known as Sr. Thérèse Rodolphe.
She received a B.A. in Education from Annhurst College and an M.A. in Religious Education from the University of San Francisco in. She taught in several schools in the following localities from 1948 to 1969: Fitchburg, MA, Putnam, CT, Waterbury, CT, Swanton, VT, Chicopee, MA, Fairfax and Davis, CA. She also did Nursery work in Fall River from 1949-1951. In 1972 she began a ministry to the Southwestern Mexican migrants along with part-time CCD work. From 1976 to 1993 she served as full-time CCD Coordinator in Patterson, San Francisco, Vallejo and Walnut Grove—all in California. She returned to Connecticut in 1993 and after earning a certificate in Therapeutic Recreation she became Director of Therapeutic Recreation at Holy Spirit Health Care Center in Putnam, CT until 1998. From 1998-2005 she rendered many and varied services to the community
She is survived by two brothers, Rudolph of Vero Beach, FL and Roland of Brooklyn, CT as well as two sisters, Mrs. Jacqueline Engblom of Brooklyn, CT and Mrs. Genevieve Bessette of Lisbon, CT and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours at the Holy Spirit Provincial House Chapel will be on Sunday, December 18, 2005, from 2-4 and 7-9 with a Prayer Service at 7:15 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, December 19 at 11 AM at the Provincial House Chapel followed by burial at St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam, CT.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Daughters of the Holy Spirit Retirement Fund, 72 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT is in charge of arrangements.
Harry "Speed" Dillon
I will always remember “The Little Flower”. She was my two daughters CCD teacher in Vallejo Ca. We used to take her camping with us to Russian River where she was the “Toast” of the RV Park that we stayed in. God bless you Little Sister. Something that I have always remembered her saying is, “When I have my good shoes on I’m short, when I have my cheap shoes on I’m a Runt, but I’d rather go Bare Foot”.