Sr. Pauline Lucier, C.S.C., campus minister at the college, died in the early morning on Wednesday, April 29. She was 60.

Her passing was announced by Campus Ministry director Susan Gabert, one of many among the faculty, staff, and student bodies touched by Sr. Pauline’s life and struggle with cancer. Sr. Pauline was diagnosed with cancer just weeks after her arrival at Saint Anselm in 2002.

Students and alumni of Sr. Pauline’s various schools, former colleagues, friends, family, and religious attended a memorial prayer service and wake on Sunday evening, remembering her as a teacher of strength, compassion, and faith. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday in the Abbey Church where Fr. Mathias Durette, O.S.B., remembered Sr. Pauline as a witness to God who “brought many to life.”

For over 40 years, Sr. Pauline was a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Cross, U.S. Region. Her ministry took her teach at junior high and elementary schools in Groton, Conn., New Bedford, Mass., and her native Nashua, N.H., where she had attended St. Louis-de-Gonzague High School. She was born the middle child or Lucille and Paul Lucier on July 29, 1948, and returned to Nashua years later as vice principal of Nashua Catholic Junior High.

At Saint Anselm, Sr. Pauline developed the retreat and retreat leader program; started the Thanksgiving basket and Christmas giving tree; and offered daily reflective readings in Lent and Advent. She was Grand Marshall of the 2008 Relay for Life, and the annual spring fundraiser for cancer was permanently named in her honour this year.

“The road Sr. Pauline chose amid her journey with cancer was a unique one and one which has left an impact in the lives of so many that know her,” dean of students Alicia Finn, Ph.D., wrote. “While she was present to her illness, she did not allow it to define her. Her relationship with God did not weaken but rather was strengthened.”

She entered the novitiate at St. George Manor in Manchester in August, 1967, and professed her final vows on August 31, 1975. She earned a B.A. from Notre Dame College, also in Manchester, in 1972, and returned to work at the college in 1984. She served Notre Dame as director of student activities and housing, administrative assistant to the academic vice president (overseeing 15 commencements), assistant director of academic advisement, director of campus ministry, and student government advisor until the college closed in 2002. In 1988, she participated in a year at the Emmaus House in Elberon, N.J.

Her family includes her mother, two brothers, a sister, several nieces, a nephew, a godson, and many grandnieces and grandnephews. Among her close friends are Sr. Anne Hoffler and Dr. Finn. Sr. Pauline also leaves behind many more who were witness to her model of strength, faith, and undying love.