Sister Denise Muriel Renaud Obituary (1939

PLAINVILLE - Sister Denise Muriel Renaud, Religious of Jesus and Mary, died peacefully at the Plainville convent surrounded by her religious sisters and loving nieces and nephews. Sister Denise had been a cancer survivor for many years and had been praying for countless people who requested her help and support through their own fight with the same disease. Born in Fall River on March 1, 1939, daughter of L. Alfred Renaud and Cora (Tessier) Renaud, in a devout Catholic family, much involved in the Notre Dame parish in Fall River, Denise was baptized, confirmed and raised as an active member of the parish. Educated by the Religious of Jesus and Mary from early childhood through high school, Denise excelled in all subjects, all the more in music and French. From high school, Denise entered the convent in Hyattsville, Md., with the Religious of Jesus and Mary. She made profession as a Religious in August 1959, at Regina convent, in Hyattsville, and final vows in 1964, still in Hyattsville. From novitiate, where the novices followed theology and philosophy with Jesuit professors, Denise went on to Catholic University in Washington, where she obtained her bachelor's of science degree. with extra courses in music. She then went on to earn graduate credits in French, from Middlebury, Vt. She taught music and French at Regina High School in Hyattsville, beginning as a novice, and then while pursuing her college degrees, from 1960 until 1963. She then taught in Providence, Fall River, and Thevenet, N.Y., for several years, and returned to Regina in Maryland, where she was actively involved in teaching French and music, as well as supportive roles in being assistant principal, scheduler, counselor and director of guidance services. All the while, Denise pursued a further degree in psychology at the Center for Religious Psychiatry. From 1981 to 1987, she was assigned as the religious community sisters' Superior, at Villa Augustina convent in Goffstown, N.H. She also worked for Catholic Charities' consultation Center for Clergy and Religious. After a year's sabbatical at Bethany Retreat Center in Highland Mills, N.Y., she returned to New Hampshire where she worked in various positions of mental health care, at St. Anselm's College in Manchester and as a clinical health care manager with the Greater Manchester Health Care Center from 1981 to 2010. Then her physical condition required her to retire at the convent's retirement center, in Plainville. She spent the last four years as an active member of her religious community, all the while, being taken care of for her ongoing fight with cancer. Only a few months before her death did she have to relinquish her activities and limited to medical care for herself. She is greatly missed by all of her religious sisters, her extended blood relatives and friends, with whom she remained closely bonded through the years. Her brother-in-law, many nieces and nephews and grands and great grands, were supportive and attentive to their Aunt Muriel's presence in their lives. Sister Denise had legally donated her body for medical research. A funeral Mass will be held on Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. at St. Bernadette's Church (formerly Notre Dame) in Fall River. A memorial Mass was celebrated for her by pastor, the Rev. Bill Schmidt, at the convent chapel in St. Martha's parish, on Saturday, Jan. 25. Sincere gratitude is extended to all who have known and loved Sister Denise. Be assured that she certainly continues to intercede for all of us who, for many years, have requested her prayers. May she rest in peace But! Don't forget us! In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Religious of Jesus and Mary Retirement Fund, 92 School Street, Plainville, MA 02762.