Lena Marion Quinn

Lena Marion (Rinfrette) Quinn, 91, died on Thursday, December 4, 2008, in Saint Vincent's Hospital Worcester Medical Center after a short illness.

Lena was born on December 20, 1916, in Douglas, MA, the daughter of Frank X. Rinfrette of Canada and Aurore Matte of Douglas. She was raised in the town of Douglas and earned her bachelor's degree in education from Worcester State College. Later in life, she returned to graduate school and received a Master's Degree in French from Assumption College.

Mrs. Quinn worked for many years as a French and Latin teacher in the Douglas public schools, retiring in 1985. Her grace and dignity in the classroom were an inspiration to countless numbers of students throughout her teaching career. After retirement, she worked for several years as a volunteer in the gift shop at the former St. Vincent's location on Providence Street.

Lena greatly enjoyed reading, classical music and the opera. She was a passionate reader who read more than fifteen thousand books during her lifetime. She also immensely enjoyed traveling and visited numerous foreign countries to include Turkey, Greece, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, England, Ireland, and the former Soviet Union.

Mrs. Quinn is survived by her five children: Robert Francis, Jr. and his wife Mary of Worcester, Thomas Matthew of Clark County, OH, Bruce Anthony and his wife Serafina of Holden, Ralph Joseph and his wife Deborah of Douglas, and Suzanne Marie of Plaistow, NH. She also leaves behind ten grandchildren and one great-grandson. Her husband, Air Force Major Robert Francis Quinn, died in 1958 and her brother Matthew Rinfrette died in 1983.

Her funeral will be held on Sat. Dec. 6 from Jackman Funeral Home 7 Mechanic St. Douglas with a Mass at 11 a.m. in St. Denis Church, 23 Manchaug Rd., Douglas. Burial will follow at St. Denis Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home will be held on Sat. Dec. 6 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations in Lena's memory may be made to the Simon Fairfield Public Library, P.O. Box 607, Douglas, MA 01516.