Irene M. Provencher

SANFORD — Irene M. Provencher, 92, of Sanford and formerly of Manchester, N.H., died on Jan. 23, 2010, after a period of declining health.

Born in Manchester on Jan. 22, 1918, she was the daughter of Auguste A. and Angeline (Joyal) Messier.

She was a lifelong resident of Manchester before moving to Sanford in 2006.

She earned a nursing degree as a registered nurse from Notre Dame de Lourdes Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1939. She furthered her nursing studies in operating room and emergency room supervisorship at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Advanced Nursing in its Philadelphia graduate hospital.

Active in nursing organizations, she was a member of the American Nurses Association, the National Council of Catholic Nurses, and Catholic Medical Center Associates. She was a founding member, past president, board and charter member of the Notre Dame de Lourdes Hospital Associates. She also held lifetime membership in the Notre Dame de Lourdes Hospital Nurses Alumnae. She was a member of the American-Canadian Genealogical Society 78, the Association des Familles Messier, Inc., the Societe Genealogique Canadienne-Francaise 2120, Montreal, Canada, as well as a member of Ste. Anne Sodality of Saint Anthony of Padua Church.

Mrs. Provencher was an historian, genealogist, and poet who wrote and published "Messier" and " Provencher," two books chronicling the genealogy of her family.

A loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she enjoyed the pleasures of family life.

She was married 51 years to Dr. Robert F. Provencher, Sr. He died August 22, 1991. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Helene Forrest, in 1968.

In her life, family members include her daughter, Fleurette Cote, of Sanford; her son, Dr. Robert F. Provencher, Jr., and his wife, Rachel (Blain), of Manchester, New Hampshire; six grandchildren, Marc R. Cote and his wife, Carla, of Biddeford, Dr. Paul P. Cote and his wife, Deborah, of Auburn, Charles Cote and his wife, Robyn, of Sydney, Australia, Nicole Desrosiers and her husband, Thomas, of Weare, New Hampshire, David R. Provencher and his wife, Kimberlee, of Guilford, Connecticut, Celeste M. Provencher and her fiancé, Derek R. Romano, of Charlestown, Massachusetts; and 10 great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Jacob, Nicholas, Michael, Annabelle, Catherine, Hannah, Lauren, Sydney, and Noah.

Calling hours are private.

The funeral will be held Saturday, Jan. 30, with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11 a.m. in Saint Elizabeth Seton Church, Meetinghouse Road, Bedford, New Hampshire.

Burial will take place in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Manchester, New Hampshire, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Monastery of the Precious Blood, 700 Bridge Street, Manchester, New Hampshire 03014 or to Family Council Pavilion, Alzheimers Unit, 25 June Street, Sanford, Maine 04073.

The Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 537 Union Street, Manchester, New Hampshire, is in charge of the arrangements.

For more information, please visit www.connorhealy.com.>