MARLBOROUGH - Sister Jeannette LaRose, a Sister of St. Anne, known in religion as Sister Agathe des Anges, died Friday, March 18, 2011 at the age of 93, at Marie Esther Health Center in this city. She was in her 72nd year of religious life.
She was the daughter of the late Felix and Anna (Stebbins) LaRose of Ludlow. She completed her elementary education at St. Jean Baptiste School in Ludlow and her secondary education at St. Anne Academy, Marlborough, where she obtained her diploma. Sister held a B.A. degree in education from Holy Names College in Seattle, Wash. and an M.A. degree in sociology from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., and did advanced religious studies.
Sister LaRose entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of St. Anne in Lachine, Quebec in 1936 and pronounced her religious vows in 1938. She returned to the United States and began her teaching career in Central Falls, R.I, and Lynn, Mass. In 1942 Sister left for our missions in British Columbia, and ministered in the following cities: Vancouver, Mission City, Nanaimo, Lillooet, and New Westminster. She went to Alaska where she gave 26 years of generous service in Skagway, Galena, Copper Valley School in Glennallen, Nulato, and Chefornak/Nightmute. She was awarded Teacher of the Year for "Outstanding Teacher in Adult Basic Education," and the award was presented in New Orleans April 9, 1982. In 1985 she received the "Winnie Barklay Elliott Foundation Award for excellence in education in Anchorage.
In 1996 Sister Jeannette returned to Ludlow where she did tutoring in English as a Second Language. She was a visitor to the elderly and a volunteer at the Survival Center in Indian Orchard. Sister then came to minister in Marlborough in 2001.
Besides her sisters in Community, Sister Jeannette is survived by her sisters, Therese Chapdelaine from East Longmeadow, Angele Roquevert and her husband Louis from Cocoa, Fla., and Marieanne Fournier from Arlington, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.
She will be waked Tuesday, March 22 from 2 to 4 p.m., with a prayer service at 4 p.m., at St. Anne Convent, 720 Boston Post Road East, Marlborough. The funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, March 23 at 10 a.m., at the Convent Chapel, with burial in Saint Mary Cemetery, Marlborough.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home, (www.CollinsFuneral.com) 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sisters of St. Anne Retirement Fund, 720 Boston Post Road East, Marlborough, MA 01752, or to a charity of your choice.