Sr. Constance Gosselin, SSA

Marlborough- Sr. Constance Gosselin, 82, (Sr. M. David of Jesus), a Sister of St. Anne, died Thursday December 12 in Marie Esther Health Center in this city.  Born in Worcester, she was the seventh of ten children born to Henri and Hilda (Trudel) Gosselin.

Educated by the Sisters of St. Anne, it is the Congregation she later joined and committed her vowed life to service in the Church through education and leadership.  She was a graduate of Holy Name High School in Worcester and earned a BA in Education from Anna Maria College and a MA degree in Administration from the University of Notre Dame.  Sister Constance spent 30 years in education as teacher and as principal.  She served in schools staffed by the Sisters of St. Anne in the archdiocese of Boston and the diocese of Worcester in MA and in the diocese of Albany, NY.

Beyond the classroom, in the 1970’s, her leadership within the congregation was being recognized and in keeping with the changes from Vatican II she introduced a circular approach to leadership.  She was appointed the first personnel director for the Sisters. Through this office, she helped to enable the Sisters to diversify and expand their roles as educators.  She also organized intercommunity summer enrichment workshops which were held at Anna Maria College.

While serving on the Board of Trustees for Anna Maria College, Sister Constance was invited by the Congregational leader to participate in a one year enrichment program of religious studies in Rome, Italy.  Upon her return, she was appointed Provincial Superior of St. Marie Province, the American Province.

In the mid-1980’s, she was appointed principal of St. Stephen’s Elementary School in Worcester.  Over the next 14 years, she worked with Parents, Teachers and Staff to expand curriculum, activities and upgrade the facility.  She then was called by the Province to serve as Finance Director for the St. Anne Montessori School in Marlboro.  In her last years of more active ministry, Sister Constance served as coordinator of the Sisters who reside in Marie Esther Health Center in Marlboro.

Sister Constance received a Woman of Distinction Award from the Montachusett Girl Scout Council, and was inducted into the Holy Name Hall of Fame as an “Alumni of the Year’’,  In 2010, she received an honorary doctorate in Human Services from Anna Maria College.

Sister Constance was predeceased by her parents and by six of her siblings: H. Charles Gosselin, Irene Robichaud, Jeanne Bonin, Eugene Gosselin, Al Gosselin and Francis Gosselin.  She will be grieved and missed by her sisters, Sister Therese Gosselin, SSA,  Madeleine Manfield and Marcelle Trackerman, her in-laws, nieces and nephews, professional colleagues and her family of the Sisters of St .Anne.

Viewing will be held on Saturday, December 15 from 9:30 am- 10:30 am at St. Anne Convent 720 Boston Post Road East, in Marlboro followed by the funeral liturgy at 10:30 am in the convent chapel. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home (www.CollinsFuneral.com), 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough. A memorial contribution may be made to the Sisters of St. Anne, 720 Boston Post Road East or to a charity of your choice.