Sheila L. Fredette

1935 - 2023

BORN

1935

DIED

2023

FUNERAL HOME

Brandon Funeral Home - Fitchburg

305 Wanoosnoc Rd.

Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Sheila Fredette Obituary

Name: Service for Sheila L. Fredette
Start: 2023-11-18T11:30:00.000Z
End: 2023-11-18T12:30:00.000Z
Location: St. Bernard's Church

Fitchburg

Dr. Sheila LaFortune Fredette, Ed.D., died on November 5, 2023, at the age of 88 at her home in Fitchburg surrounded by family. Sheila was born on September 26, 1935, in Gardner, MA to Edward and Esther LaFortune. She was predeceased by her husband, Norman Fredette. She leaves three children: Andre Fredette and his wife, Nancy, Suzanne (Fredette) Lucas, and David Fredette. Sheila also leaves four grandchildren, Jennifer, Ryan, and Rae Fredette, and Sage (Lucas) Garcia and her husband, Chris.

Sheila was a loving wife to her husband, Norman Fredette for almost 63 years, and mourned his loss since he died in April of this year. She was a devoted mother to her three children and a beloved "Nana" to her four grandchildren. She was a fierce advocate for people with developmental disabilities and was instrumental in starting multiple programs in the Fitchburg area to help them live their fullest lives. One of her biggest accomplishments in this area was the creation of The Beacon of Hope, which she founded with a few others in the mid-1980s, and which thrives to this day.

In addition to her family life, Sheila was dedicated to nursing and education. After starting her career as a nurse, she became a nursing instructor at the Burbank Hospital School of Nursing followed by a long and distinguished career as a Professor of Nursing at Fitchburg State University. While at FSU, she helped countless young people enter the nursing profession and was a prolific researcher and publisher in the field of Nursing. She was also a Certified Oncology Nurse, a cancer patient educator, and facilitated support groups for people with cancer.

Sheila leaves behind a legacy of compassion, and dedication to education and community service. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. The world is a better place for having had Sheila Fredette in it, and her memory will live on forever in the hearts of those who loved her.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Beacon of Hope, 62 West Street, P.O. Box 426, Leominster, MA 01453.

Arrangements are under the care of Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd. Fitchburg, MA 01420.

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor, Melissa A. McQuaid, Funeral Directors.

A service will be held at 11:30 AM on Saturday, November 18, 2003, at St. Bernard Parish at St. Camillus de Lellis Church, 333 Mechanic St, Fitchburg, MA 01420

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Published by Sentinel & Enterprise on Nov. 12, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Sheila Fredette

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3 Entries

Stan Bucholc

November 15, 2023

SO SAD to hear of her passing. I knew her as a faculty member and as Dean for many years and remember her passion for teaching and dedication to her students. She was a key member of the Nursing faculty and brought the department forward in many ways. Her contributions will certainly be remembered. Stan Bucholc

A Former Student

November 14, 2023

It saddens me to hear of Sheila´s passing. Sheila was one of my professors at FSU, class of 2009 and the majority of my nursing career has centered around caring for persons with developmental disabilities. As a naïve college-aged person, I did not even know that such a career path was a possibility, until I met Sheila. That discovery changed my life´s trajectory, and has led to me meeting some of the most incredible people. I shall always remember Sheila fondly.

loïs ann clouthier

November 12, 2023

Sheila Fredette was my aunt, my mother's young brother Norman's wife. I've known her since I was 11, in 1958 when she and my Uncle Norman were courting. I was only 11 and had no idea that her ideas about men sharing housework and child-rearing responsibities, were controversial for the time, that she was in the avant-garde.

That was Sheila: she said what she meant, and she meant what she said, even if it be out of the "norm". She was an independent thinker, a mover and a shaker, who contributed i major ways to the betterment of her community.

She was my precious aunt and I loved her deeply. My only consolation in her passing is that she, who suffered much pain over many years, is no longer suffering.

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