Sr. Patricia Pelletier, DW Celebrates 60th Jubilee as a Daughter of Wisdom

Sr. Patricia Pelletier (Sr. Evelyn of the Child Jesus) is celebrating 60 years of religious life as a Daughter of Wisdom. Sister Patricia was born on July 30, 1943, in Eagle Lake, Maine, to parents Camille and Eveline Therriault. Her parish at entrance was St. Mary’s in Eagle Lake, Maine, and she made her First Profession of Vows on August 2, 1963.

“The greatest gift that I’ve received has been the people whom I’ve met, the students whom I’ve had the privilege to work with, in the many different ministries in which I’ve worked,” Sr. Patricia said, reflecting recently on the blessings throughout her many years of religious life.

After graduating from Notre Dame de la Sagesse in St. Agatha, Maine, in 1961, she entered the Novitiate in Litchfield, Connecticut, and attended Seat of Wisdom College from 1961 to 1967. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education for Nursery through Grade 6 and completed her student teaching at Gate of Heaven in Ozone Park, New York.

Sister Patricia’s first ministry was as a teacher at Maryhaven, Port Jefferson, NY,  from 1967 to 1978, which holds a very special place in her heart. “When I was at Maryhaven, one of the sisters there said that it would be a ministry that would be part of our lives forever, and that has turned out to be the case,” she added lovingly, “It was a school for special children, and it turned out to be special for us as well. They made a difference in my life. I hope I made a difference in their lives.”

From 1978 to 1981, Sister Patricia served as a Teacher at St. Camillus Elementary School in Springfield, MD. From 1981 to 1984, she served as Head Start Director for Center Head Start in Center, Colorado, helping to ensure that young children from economically disadvantaged families were prepared for Kindergarten. She then served as Coordinator of Education Resources for Longmont Head Start, in Longmont, Colorado, from 1984 to 1986. From 1987 to 1999, she served as Office Manager for O.U.R. Center in Longmont, Colorado. In the year 2000, Sr. Patricia became the Provincial Treasurer for the Daughters of Wisdom in Islip, NY, serving her community of Sisters with her outstanding skills and abilities, as well as her gentle demeanor and dedication.

Another ministry Sr. Patricia holds dear is the time she spent doing Pastoral Care with Good Shepherd Hospice, beginning in 2012. “In this ministry, I was involved in chaplaincy and working with hospice patients, ministry with people at the end of their lives. I felt blessed,” she said.

Beginning in 2017, Sr. Patricia focused on supporting Sisters with rides to appointments, served on the committee to prepare the annual Jubilee celebration for Sisters and Associates, and worked with Sr. Bernadette Sassone in the English as Second Language program. She became a listening ear for neighbors and a presence to Sisters at Maria Regina Residential Center in Brentwood, NY, where she participated in special celebration Masses with them, and a companion providing transportation to medical appointments, the library, and to entertainment for our retired Sisters at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Convent in Sound Beach, NY.

Now residing at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sound Beach, Sr. Patricia enjoys her peaceful prayer time. She is grateful to the Sisters and people in various ministries who have blessed her life.