Sister Normande was born Nov. 13, 1929, in Winslow. She was the 11th child born to Alphonse Fortin and Julia Duquette. She received both her elementary and secondary education in Winslow.
In 1951, Normande entered the Congregation of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (also known as the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec) in Bay View, Saco. After her profession of vows, she spent a year studying at the Good Shepherd Scholasticate in Quebec City. Upon her return to the United States, she earned a degree in liberal arts from the University of Maine in Gorham.
Sister Normande’s long career in education as a classroom teacher, librarian and religious education teacher took her to St. Anne School in Lawrence, Massachusetts; Mt. Carmel School in Methuen, Massachusetts; St. Joseph School in Biddeford; St. John Evangelist in South Portland; and Holy Redeemer Parish in Bar Harbor.
Sister Normande studied a full year at Maine Medical Center in preparation for her work in pastoral care, which took her to Elizabeth Seton Hospital in Winslow, St. John Evangelist Parish in South Portland and St. Theresa’s Parish in Lawrence. When she retired from her pastoral care ministry, she continued to render service to the community in Bay View until she was transferred to St. Joseph Convent Infirmary in 2004.
She is survived by: three brothers, Robert and George from Winslow, and Lucien from South Carolina.
Visiting hours are 6- 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, and 9:30-10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, at St. Joseph Convent, 409 Pool St., Biddeford. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Convent at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Biddeford.
Arrangements are by Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford. To share condolences online, please visit HopeMemorial.com.
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