Claire PELLETIER

Sr. Claire Pelletier DHS -- October 22, 1918 -- December 22, 2005 -- PUTNAM- Sr. Claire Pelletier, DHS, age 87, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit died on Thursday, December 22, 2005 at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, CT. She had been a resident at the Holy Spirit Provincial House since 2000. Born on October 22, 1918 in Fitchburg, MA, the daughter of the late Joseph and Bernadette (Pelletier) Pelletier, Sr. Claire entered religious life in 1946 and made her religious profession at the Holy Spirit Provincial House in Putnam, CT on August 16, 1949. She was then known as Sr. Ste. Bernadette Joseph.Sr. Claire received a B.A. from Annhurst College South Woodstock, CT in 1954 and an M.F.A. from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 1961 as well as an M.A. from Mahattanville College of the Sacred Heart, Purchase, NY. She was primarily a teacher and educator for most of her religious life. Her assignments were as follows: St. Joseph School, Burlington, VT; St. Mary's School, Jewett City, CT; Putnam Catholic Academy, Putnam, CT; and St. Joseph School, Waterbury, CT. Sr. Claire was named Directress of Junior Sisters in 1963 and Assistant Dean of Diocesan Sisters' College in 1966. In 1969, she became head of the Art Department at Annhurst College where she served approximately eight years. In 1977, she was appointed Provincial of the U.S. Province of Daughters of the Holy Spirit. At the end of her 6 year term she served in Pastoral Ministry at Sacred Heart Church in Norwichtown, CT. From 1986 -- 1997, Sr. Claire served as Diocesan director of Evangelization and Catechumenate for the Diocese of Norwich. Since 1997, she has been Activity Director for the retired Sisters at the Provincial House, Putnam, CT. Survivors include one brother, Rev. Eugene Pelletier of Manchester, N.H., and two sisters, Mrs. Marguerite Hazzard and Thérèse Pelletier, both of Leominster, MA and several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.Calling hours at the Provincial House chapel will be on Tuesday, December 27 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, December 28 at 11:00 A.M. at the Provincial House chapel followed by burial at St. Mary's Cemetery, Putnam, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Daughters of the Holy Spirit Retirement Fund, 72 Church St., Putnam, CT, 06260 Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT is in charge of arrangements.