Sister Jeanne Girardin died Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at Bethany Healthcare Center in Framingham, MA.  

Born in Rumford, ME, she was the daughter of the late Donat and Victoria (Leblond) Girardin.  From a deeply Catholic family, Jeanne attended the parish elementary school with the Sisters of St. Chretienne.  Her older sister Gertrude entered the community and Jeanne followed in 1948. After pronouncing her vows in 1950, she became a teacher for children in Grades 1and 2.

In 1960, Jeanne was missioned to serve the Cree people in northern Alberta, Canada.  She joined her sister Gertrude, who in 1957 with three companions, answered a request from the people of the Little Red River Nation for Sisters to open their first school on the reservation.  Previously, the children would have to go to residential schools away from their families.  Jeanne taught grades 1-3 in Trout Lake and Garden River. She loved the people there and later did pastoral work and catechetics in Cadotte Lake, Alberta.  

Returning east in 1976, Jeanne studied counseling for persons with addictions, earning a Master’s degree.  She ran a thrift shop in Orange, MA.  Later, she lived in Manchester, NH and was a chaplain at the Catholic Medical Center there. She also did retreat ministry and gave sessions in contemplative prayer at Joseph House.

In her retirement years in the Sisters’ home in Marlboro, MA, Jeanne discovered the Addiction Referral Center.  She spent time there each week as a gentle affirming presence among the folks, becoming a good friend and sharing God’s unconditional compassion with them. 

With her health declining, Jeanne was a resident of the memory care unit at Bethany Healthcare Center.  The staff extended their loving attentions to her, a gift to her family and her Sisters.  Jeanne was deeply spiritual, her life marked by deep prayer, simplicity and care for the Lord’s suffering people. Now she is wrapped in her Lord’s tender embrace forever.

Sister was predeceased by her sisters, Gertrude, SSCh, Rachel and Hortense and her brother David.  She is mourned by her nieces and nephews and their families as well as her religious Sisters.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 10:30AM at the Sisters’ residence at 720 Boston Post Road East in Marlborough, MA 01752. Visitation will be held from 9:30 – 10:15AM.