Sr. Marie Clarisse Belanger, (Sr. Mary Dolora) a Sister of Saint Anne, died on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at Alliance Health at Marie Esther, Marlborough, MA after a decline in health. She was 100 years old.

Born in Worcester, MA on May 26, 1925 she was the third of five children born to Eugene and Emma (Drolet) Belanger. She grew up in Worcester, MA where she attended St. Joseph Elementary School and completed high school studies at St. Anne Academy, Marlborough. Having earned a diploma as a registered nurse at St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing in Worcester, Clarisse dedicated herself to her nursing career before entering the Sisters of Saint Anne. As a vowed religious, her nursing background led her to spend her life in compassionate service in general nursing and as a psychiatric nurse, with a focus on grief, death and dying. Hospice care was always close to her heart. Her career also included work in Staff Development and Leadership as a Director of Nursing. She served in British Columbia, Canada, as well as in the United States in Alaska, Maryland and Massachusetts.

She earned a Master's Degree in Psychiatric Nursing, and a Doctorate in Education both from Catholic University, Washington, D.C. Sr. Clarisse was a life-long learner with various certificates in her fields of study. Even in her elder years she continued to grow and learn through voluminous reading and listening to educational podcasts. A published writer on bereavement she was also a poet, a lover of literature, and an engaging conversationalist who delighted in thoughtful discussion, card games and board games.

Her spiritual life as a vowed religious woman remained central to her identity guiding her through a century of wisdom, care and unwavering faith.

She is pre-deceased by her parents and by her siblings, Gerard Belanger, Theresa St. Germaine, Lucille Belanger, SSA and Adrienne Belanger, SSA. She leaves to grieve the Sisters of Saint Anne, her nephews Gerard St. Germaine, Robert Belanger, and her niece Sybil Belanger Conley as well as other grand-nieces and nephews and other family members and many friends. She will be fondly missed by all.

Her funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM Friday September 5 with a wake from 9:45-10:30 AM in St. Anne Chapel, Alliance Health at Marie Esther, 720 Boston Post Road East, Marlborough. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Marlborough.   Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln St. Marlborough, MA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Saint Anne, retirement fund, 406 Hemenway Street #30, Marlborough, MA 01752