Shrewsbury – RoseMarie Levesque loved Ram Dass’s quote, “We are all just walking each other home.” The God whom she so loved walked RoseMarie home Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016. She died peace filled and with a heart full of gratitude. She was 81.
RoseMarie always made certain that those in her life knew how touched and blessed she was because of the gift they were to her and she made certain to tell them. It’s an important lesson and legacy. Her deep faith was sowed at a very early age and it never left her, blossoming into a rich spirituality that she shared joyously with others simply by being her loving and accepting self.
She dedicated herself to a “ministry of an open heart.” This was so evident in how she greeted everyone, being attentive to their needs, and sensitive to their life situation. Her home was a place of peace, love and extravagant welcoming. All is gift.
RoseMarie A. Coderre was born Dec. 3, 1934 in New Bedford, a daughter of Canadian immigrants Alphonse and Marie (Lariviere) Coderre. Raised in Worcester, she was a graduate of Holy Name High School on Illnois Street with the class of 1953. She earned her bachelor of arts from Anna Maria College in 1960 and her Master’s degree in Religious Education from Providence College.
For over 25 years RoseMarie was a Sister of St. Anne, known in religious life as Sr. Mary Germaine. While a religious sister, she taught at Holy Name High School in both religious education and mathematics. She later served in pastoral ministry at St. Marie’s Church in Cohoes, New York, and as retreat director at the Esther House of Prayer on Edward Street in Worcester. She advanced her studies at the Weston School of Theology. After much prayer and discernment she left the convent in 1978 and entered the secular world. She worked for the actuarial firm Wellesley, Watts & Wyatt in Wellesley.
She lived her life mindful of the sacraments and was blessed to find love with Kenneth J. Levesque. They were married Nov. 30, 1980 in the former Calvary Passionist Retreat Center. Bread and wine were shared at their reception and it was symbolic to RoseMarie of what she experienced in Mass. Ken died June 18, 1990, but received a long awaited Valentine when RoseMarie joined him on Sunday. Their wedding bands engraved now remind us to “act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God.”
RoseMarie is predeceased by her husband, Ken; brothers, Paul C. and Marcel J. Coderre, and nephews, John Fontaine, Raymond and John Coderre.
She leaves her family and many friends; her sisters and brother-in-law, Irene Coderre of Auburn and Elva and Norman Fontaine of Shrewsbury; her nieces and nephews, Michael and Michelle Fontaine of Windham, N.H., Peter and Patricia Fontaine of S. Kingstown, R.I., Mark and Kathi Fontaine of Paxton, Ann Marie Coderre of Worcester, Denise Boucher of Charlton, and Richard Coderre of Worcester; her great-nieces & nephews, Nicole Fontaine Dooley, Danielle, Jeffrey, Benjamin, Sophia, Julie and Emily Fontaine; and a host of friends and caregivers.
Family and friends will honor and remember RoseMarie’s life by gathering for calling hours Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 4-7 p.m., at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors – The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center, and again Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary’s Church, 640 Main St., Shrewsbury, where her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester.
In lieu of flowers memorials in her name may be made to Sisters of St. Anne, 720 Boston Post Rd., Marlborough, MA 01752.
For all that has been…..thanks. To all that will be….yes!
