Marlborough – Sister Claire Ferland, a Sister of St. Anne, died in her 92nd year and in her 21st year of vowed religious life at Marie Esther Health Center in Marlborough Friday, Aug. 21, 2015.
She was the second 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 and pronounced vows and was known as Sister M. Omer of Jesus.
For 20 years, she taught in New England schools staffed by the Sisters of St. Anne. She fulfilled her true lifelong dream when she left the Sisters, to earn her LPN degree at Hudson Valley Community College in preparation to become a medical missionary in Africa. She was her family caregiver while gaining nursing experience in New York and in New Hampshire. She first traveled to Sierra Leonne as a medical missionary with Catholic Relief Services and missioned for 11 years with that organization and with the Brothers of the Sacred Heart on the west coast of Africa.
Upon her return to the United States, she resumed family care giving and became an Associate of the Sisters of St. Anne in Marlborough. She rejoined the Sisters of St. Anne in 2013 and pronounced final vows in 2014.
Sister Claire is grieved by her siblings, Sister Helen Ferland, SSA and Sister Rollande Ferland, SSA, both of Marlborough, and the Sisters of St. Anne.
She was waked Aug. 24 at St. Anne Convent of Marlborough, followed by a prayer service. Her funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 25 in the convent chapel with burial in Evergreen Cemetery of Marlborough. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home of Marlborough.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Sisters of St. Anne, 720 Boston Post Rd., Marlborough, MA 01752 or to a charity of your choice.
