PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO UPCOMING STORM THE FUNERAL MASS WILL BE CELEBRATED WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 8 at 4:00 p.m.

Burial will be private.

MARLBOROUGH – Sister Irene Leblanc, a Sister of St. Anne, known in religion as Sister M. Frederica, died at the age of 90 at Marie Esther Health Center in this city on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 in the 71st   year of vowed religious life.  Born in Lynn, MA, she was the eldest of six children born to Frederic and Alice (Roy) Leblanc.

She joined the Sisters of St. Anne in Lachine, Quebec and professed vows in 1945.  She held a Certification and License as Pedicurist and earned Teaching Certificates from Montreal University, She earned a B.A. degree in Education from Anna Maria College (Paxton, MA.), and an M.A. degree in Religious Studies from Assumption College (Worcester).

Sister Irene taught in elementary schools staffed by the Sisters of St. Anne in Montreal, Quebec. She was a Nursing Assistant at the Sisters of St. Anne Motherhouse Infirmary as well as a Pedicurist and Bookkeeper at St. Anne Hospital, Lachine, QC.

Sister Irene returned to the United States in 1973 and was assigned to the Registrar’s Office at Anna Maria College (Paxton) in the area of Records and Placement. She also became a Resident Director in Student Housing.  She was serving as a Library Aide at the College when she was invited to community leadership at the Holy Name High School convent in Worcester, MA.  She served in that same role at the former Emmanuel House convent in Wayland, MA.  Before declining health required a move to Marie Esther Health Center, she provided pedicure and other services at St. Anne Convent, Marlborough, MA. 

Sister Irene was predeceased by her parents, her brother Walter (Sonny) Leblanc and her sister Jeanne (Leblanc) DeFillipo.  She will be missed and grieved by her sisters, Eva (Leblanc) Cormier and Rita Leblanc and her brother, Trappist Brother Christian (Richard) Leblanc, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews and the Sisters of St. Anne.

She will be waked at St. Anne Convent, 720 Boston Post Road, Marlborough, on Wednesday, February 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. followed by a prayer service.  The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday February 8 in the  convent chapel at 4:00 pm.  Private burial will be held in Evergreen Cemetery, Marlborough.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough. All are invited to sign Sr. Irene’s online guestbook at www.CollinsFuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations, in her memory, may be made to the Sisters of St Anne Retirement Fund, 720 Boston Post Road East, Marlborough, MA 01752, or to a charity of your choice.

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