Marlborough – Sr. Caroline Plante (Sr. M. Anne Miriam) (84), a Sister of St. Anne, for 57 years, died October 5, at Alliance Health in Marie Esther Center in this city following a lengthy period of serious declining health.
Born in Worcester, she was the middle child of three and the only daughter of Leo C. Plante and Julia Ingaborg Mattson Plante.
Sister Carolyn’s early education was mostly with the Sisters of St. Anne in Worcester and the area. She graduated from the former St. Joseph’s School, and Holy Name of Jesus High School. Following vows, she earned a degree from Anna Maria College and did further studies at Providence College.
She joined the Sisters and pronounced vows. She then began a teaching ministry in schools staffed by the Sisters of St. Anne. In those years, she taught at St. John the Baptist school in Ludlow, Notre Dame School in Central Falls, Rhode Island, the former St. Anne’s School in Webster, MA and at the former Holy Name High School in Worcester.
She was an efficient and organized teacher who felt a strong call to other ways of service. Over many years, Sister Carolyn served as a Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Worcester, the Nutrition Site Manager at the Age Center of Worcester and part of the team at the former Esther House of Spiritual Renewal in Worcester. She contributed time and talent as a past president of the Tatnuck Ecumenical Cluster, a Bishop’s delegate to the Diocesan Ecumenical Board, and as a secretary of the former Sister Senate in the Worcester diocese.
She became a resident of Marie Anne Center in Marlboro. Her great love for the elderly allowed her to offer caregiving, companionship and service among our Sisters until her health no longer allowed that involvement.
Sister Carolyn was predeceased by her parents and by her siblings Richard and Leo Plante.
In addition to all of her Sisters, the Sisters of St. Anne, especially her close friend and caregiver, Sr. Ines Almeida SSA, she leaves to grieve faithful dear nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, loving cousins, and loyal lifelong friends.
Viewing will be held on Thursday October 12 from 8:30 to 9:15 am in St. Anne Chapel at Alliance Health, 720 Boston Post Road East, in Marlboro followed by the funeral liturgy at 9:30 am in the Chapel. The burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Collins Funeral Home (www.CollinsFuneral.com), 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough.
Memorial contributions may be made to the retirement fund of the Sisters of St. Anne, 720 Boston Post Road East, Marlborough, MA 01752 or to a charity of your choice.
