Linette Doucette

“Live with the life of Jesus, love with his heart, think with his mind, act with his strength.”

-Françoise Blin de Bourdon (Spiritual Advice # 2)

Born in Waterville, Maine, Sister Linette Doucette, SNDdeN enjoyed a happy childhood as one of seven children. “Thanks to hard-working parents and an outdoor environment that gave the children many opportunities for play,” she and her brother Joe enjoyed heading to the woods to look for snakes under rocks!

In 1946, Linette entered the Ursuline Order. As soon as she put on the veil, she was invited to France for her novitiate training. She quips, “Who would say no to that!?” She and her companion, Sister Jacklyn, spent over two years there. Upon her return from France, Sister Linette went to New Rochelle, New York, to begin work on her first degree. After four years of study, she entered her ministry of teaching in Maine, the Bronx and Springfield, Massachusetts.

With God’s help, Sister Linette transferred to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1980. This was a life-changing decision, and as Sister Linette describes it, “one of the best decisions I’ve made!”

As an SNDdeN, she taught at St. Thomas Aquinas in New Britain, Connecticut, and at St. Justin’s School in Hartford. Of all her ministries, Sister most loved teaching 8th grade at St. Justin’s. At the time, the neighborhood was predominantly made up of immigrants from Jamaica. “These were the children I taught,” she recalls. “They were all so receptive. I loved English class the most. I thought I had it made. Loved all the kids so much.”

Over the years, Sister Linette served as a pastoral care provider and taught English to refugees in the Diocese of Hartford. One memorable experience was when she volunteered to help prepare for and welcome Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur from around the world who were attending an orientation workshop at the United Nations in New York City. Traveling by subway, walking from place to place and providing meals and supplies proved to be a strenuous undertaking, and yet Sister Linette took on these challenges with her usual positive energy and good spirits.

Now living at Julie House in Windsor, Connecticut, Sister Linette feels she is in a perfect place for spiritual development. She enjoys the community life and continues to serve.