Obituary
Guest Book
Auburn; Sr. Pauline Bonenfant, OP died on Saturday September 9, 2017 at Bolster Heights Residential Care Facility in Auburn, Maine at the age of 99 and after 77 years of religious life. She was born Therese, daughter of Evariste and Mary (Deschesnes) Bonenfant on December 6, 1917 in Lewiston, Maine. She began her Christian journey at Saints Peter and Paul Church. She entered the Dominican Sisters in Valleyfield, Canada in 1938. She made her temporary vows in 1940 and her final vows in 1945, also in Valleyfield, Canada.
Sr. Pauline has served the church as an educator all of her life in Staten Island, NY and Lewiston, Maine. She studied at Fordham University and received her degree in Education. She has touched many of her students' lives by her gentle, understanding and loving spirit. Her community responsibilities included that of Local Prioress and Bursar in Brookline, Massachusetts, an establishment which included the Provincial House, a private school, the Formation House and a boarding house for student sisters from other religious communities. When Sr. Pauline returned to Lewiston in 1975, she continued as Local Prioress of her community while teaching at St. Peter's School. Sr. Pauline retired from teaching in 1989 at the age of 72.
In 1995, Sr. Pauline was assigned to our convent in Sabattus, Maine until her health started to fail. At that time she became a resident of Bolster Residential Care Facility where she became acquainted and present to the other residents and staff. It was not unusual to find Sr. Pauline praying by the bedside of a resident or encouraging and counseling staff members who confided in her. She is survived by nieces, nephews and her Dominican community. Besides her parents she was predeceased by her brothers Leopold, Robert and Marcel and her sisters Sr. Celine (Germaine) and Jeannette.
Visitation Fortin / Lewiston Thursday Sept. 14th 9:00 to 10:30 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday Sept 14th , 11:00 am Holy Cross Church 1080 Lisbon Street, Lewiston, Maine 0424. Committal and Burial St. Peter's Cemetery . Donations in Sr. Bonenfant's name may be made to Loaves and Fishes 61 Lisbon Rd. Sabattus, ME. 04280
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by The Fortin Group.
3 Entries
June 6, 2018
Family
Noah Maheux
She was a very caring person. Whenever I was able to visit her, it was always a happy occasion. I wish she was still alive.
September 12, 2017
Pam Cote Vaillancourt
Sr Pauline was the teacher who really changed my life. I came to St Peters in 4th grade from public school. Didn't know how to act in Catholic School and she taught me so much with such compassion and dignity, never making me feel less of a person because I didn't know otherwise. May she rest in the arms of our Lord forever!
September 12, 2017
Christine Lagueux
My most favorite teacher ever in my entire school life. She was a special teacher at St Peters Elementary School. I was a child who had trouble reading comprehension and she would stay after school with me. Because of her, I love to read and she helped me through it. I will never forget her. I feel so lucky to visit her back in June 2017. I have always wanted to see her again and I would have regretted if I didn't go. Because of my busy life I would put it off until one day in June I told myself it is either today or never. I am so lucky to have seen her again. Heaven has a very sweet angel. She had the kindest of hearts and a giving soul. I hope to see her again soon.
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