March 11, 2019

OBITUARY: Sister James Bernard Laughnane, SSJ

REGIONAL

HOLYOKE – Sister of St. Joseph James Bernard Laughnane (Genevieve), 95, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died at Mont Marie Health Care Center in Holyoke on March 10.

A native of Southbridge, Mass., she was the daughter of James and Jessie (Lamoureaux) Laughnane. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Mary Parish, Southbridge, in 1942. She graduated from St. Mary High School, Southbridge. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, and a master of arts degree in education and reading from Boston College. 

She served in the Diocese of Springfield as a teacher at the former St. Jerome School, Holyoke, St. Patrick School, Chicopee and Cathedral High School, Springfield. She served as librarian at St. Mary School and Jacob Edwards Library, both in Southbridge, and at St. Joseph Academy, St. Augustine, Florida. She also taught in the GAL Adult Literacy Program in Ludlow.

In addition to her sisters in community, she is survived by several generations of nieces and nephews, including Ann Marie Marino, Janice Kennedy, and James Bernard Laughnane III.

All services for Sister Laughnane will take place in St. Joseph Chapel at Mont Marie in Holyoke on Wednesday, March 13., The wake will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with a prayer service at 10 a.m. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Mont Marie Cemetery, Holyoke.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.