Daughters of the Holy Spirit USA

06/12/2026

Sr. Patricia Blais, DHS

March 17, 1926 – June 11, 2026

Sr. Patricia Blais, 100, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died on Thursday June 11, 2026 at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham, CT.

Born Fleurette Patricia Marie on March 17, 1926 in Lewiston, ME, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Stanislas Blais and Marie Stella Goulette Blais. When she was19, Patricia attended the Boston Ritter School of Floral Design in preparation to manage the family’s flower shop. However, she did not find the work satisfying and in 1961 she entered the Daughters of the Holy Spirit. She was then known as Sr. Marie Stella.

That year, she started teaching first grade in Burlington, VT while studying at Annhurst College. Sr. Patricia received her BS in education in 1973. She taught primary grades in Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Returning to Vermont in 1989, she ministered as a Home Care Provider until she retired in 2001. Once back in Connecticut, Sr. Pat became a driver for the sisters at the Provincial House of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit in Putnam. When the Provincial House closed in 2019, she joined the community at St Joseph Living Center. She celebrated her 100th birthday in March among family, friends and the DHS Spiritual Family.

Wherever she went, true to her name and early training, Sr. Pat worked behind the scene, planting gardens and spreading floral beauty everywhere, including her windowsill at the Living Center.

Sr. Patricia is survived by the Daughters of the Holy Spirit spiritual family – her Sisters in community, the Consecrated Seculars and the Associates as well as many nieces and nephews and their children. She was predeceased by her sisters Paulette, Constance, Solange, Sr. Priscilla, DHS and her brothers Bertrand and Norman.

Calling hours will be on Friday June 19, 2026 at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish/Most Holy Trinity Church, 568 Pomfret St., Pomfret, CT. Wake will begin at 11:00 AM with a prayer service at 11:15 AM. The Mass of Christina Burial will take place at 12:00 PM. Burial will immediately follow in St Mary Cemetery, Putnam, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to DHS Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 497, Putnam, CT 06260. The Gilman Valade Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT is in charge of arrangements.

05/31/2026

Congratulations to Lorraine Gallop who pronounced her definitive vows as a Consecrated Secular of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit Spiritual Family on May 30th at Corpus Christi Parish/St Joseph Church.

05/19/2026

Dr. Françoise Gauthier, 81, of Putnam, passed away suddenly on Sunday May 3, 2026 at Matulaitis Rehabilitation Center. Born August 3, 1944 in Biddeford, Maine, she was the only child of Raymond and Viola (Pomerleau) Gauthier. After graduating from St Bernard High School in New London, Françoise entered the Daughters of the Holy Spirit. She was then known as Sr. Raymond Françoise. She received her BA in education from Annhurst College and a MA in Spanish Language and Literature from Universidad Ibero-Americana in Mexico. Françoise also received 2 PhD degrees: Biblical Theology from I.B.I.S in Orlando, Fl. and Theology and Parish Administration from the International Seminary, also in Florida.

Françoise began her ministry in education as a teacher and assistant principal at All Hallows School in Moosup. She continued as a teacher at Putnam Catholic Academy then a professor of Spanish and English at Annhurst College. From 1983 to 1995 she served as principal at St Mary School in Putnam and again from 2006 until it closed in 2010.

Françoise separated canonically from the Daughters of the Holy Spirit in 1998 but remained attached in her heart. In 2001, what started as a part-time summer job coordinating the cars and drivers at the Provincial House eventually led to taking on the role of Development Director, a task she was still fulfilling at the time of her death. In that role, she coordinated with many individuals and groups, including the Knights of Columbus.

She loved to travel and her fluency in French, Spanish, Italian and some Portuguese and German helped. Her proficiency in languages was an additional asset as she translated numerous documents and meetings, both large and small, for religious congregations especially the Daughters of the Holy Spirit and the Bon Secour Sisters in Baltimore for over 25 years.

Under her stern, no nonsense exterior was a generous spirit. She shared her time, talent and resources with a vast network of friends who will miss her greatly.

Calling hours will be on Wednesday June 3, 2026 from 9:30 to 11:00 at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish/Holy Trinity Church, 568 Pomfret St., Pomfret, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held there at 11:00 AM followed by burial at St Mary Cemetery in Putnam.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to DHS Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 497, Putnam, CT 06260 or Interfaith Human Services of Putnam, Inc., 53 Grove St, Putnam, CT 06260 for Daily Bread of the Greater Putnam Area. The Gilman Valade Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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03/16/2026

Happy 100th Birthday to Sr Patricia Blais

Technically, Sr Pat turns 100 on March 17th but on Sunday March 15th, family, friends, sisters, associates and consecrated seculars gathered at St Joseph Living Center to celebrate this milestone. It was a joyous celebration.