Marlborough – Sister Helen Ferland, 94, a Sister of St. Anne, died Saturday, June 4, 2016 at Marie Esther Health Center in Marlborough. Sister Helen was in her 71st year of vowed religious life.
She was the first of five children born to Omer and Lumina (Plante) Ferland, formerly of Central Falls, R.I. Following high school, she joined the Sisters of St. Anne in Lachine, Quebec, pronounced vows and was known as Sister M. Lumina of Jesus. In the next 70-plus years, Sister Helen was missioned in the Canadian Provinces of British Columbia and Quebec and in New England. In British Columbia, Sister Helen taught in elementary level and middle schools staffed by the Sisters of St. Anne in Vancouver, Nanaimo, Prince George and Penticton. In Quebec, she taught at Queen of Angels Academy, in Dorval, QC.
Upon her return to the United States, Sister Helen completed her teaching career in elementary schools in Lynn and North Adams. In her next ministry options, Sister Helen invested her business skills and did accounting in New Hampshire businesses and was the assistant treasurer at the former St. Anne’s Academy in Marlborough. She was an administrative secretary at the former Notre Dame School and St. Matthew School in Central Falls, R.I., and was part of the secretarial staff at the Chancery, Catholic diocese of Providence, R.I.
For a number of years, Sister Helen served as secretary to the faculty and reprographics manager at Holy Name Central Catholic High School in Worcester. Before moving to Marie Esther Health Center, she was an assistant to the bookkeeper of the facility.
Sister Helen was predeceased by her parents and three siblings. She is grieved by her sibling, Sister Rollande Ferland SSA of Marlborough and the Sisters of St. Anne.
There will be a viewing hour Tuesday, June 7, at 9 a.m., at St. Anne Convent, 720 Boston Post Road East, Marlborough, followed by her funeral liturgy at 10 a.m. in the convent chapel. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Marlborough. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home (www.CollinsFuneral.com), 378 Lincoln St., Marlborough.
Donations, in her memory, may be made to the Sisters of St. Anne or to a charity of your choice.
