Claudette H. Bourque

Claudette Helene (Boudreau) Bourque, 87, of North Smithfield, RI, formerly a longtime resident of Gardner, died peacefully Saturday, April 19, 2025, in her home surrounded by family.

Born in Gardner on March 22, 1938, she was the daughter of the late Aquila and Beatrice (Chartier) Boudreau. She graduated from Gardner High School in 1956 and worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for several years. She raised three beautiful children, Monique, Ernest Jr., and Marcel, who were the loves of her life and the best thing she ever did—truly her greatest joy. Her love for her family was a guiding light in her life, bringing warmth and closeness to all who knew her.

Claudette's adventurous spirit was a beacon of inspiration for all who knew her. She enjoyed long bicycle camping trips, including her first great excursion: a 226-mile bicycle trip from Gardner to Provincetown on Cape Cod with 3 friends, which ignited her passion and love of cycling. The longest of her adventures was a 1,000-mile journey on the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, Canada. She worked on a farm at a bike shop and went on to become a bicycle tour guide for 15 years with Bike Vermont. She also led hiking trips for Outdoor Vacations for women over 40. In the winter months, she was a lifeguard and swim/swimastics instructor at the Fitchburg YMCA. Claudette’s adventurous spirit included lots of mountain climbing and taking a leadership course in Winter Mountaineering. She enjoyed cross-country skiing, ice skating, and snowshoeing.

She was a parishioner of Annunciation Parish of Gardner, practicing at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, where she was a eucharistic minister, lector, and choir member. She was also an associate of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. In her later life, Claudette enjoyed cooking, reading, volunteering at the Levi Heywood Memorial Library, making greeting cards for family, friends, and the nursing home, as well as swimming, and spending time with her family. She did lots of worldly travel with her sister Doris, took many trips with her daughter Monique, and loved hiking with her friends Cece and Nancy. Claudette will be remembered for her deep faith, adventurous spirit, love for family and friends, and unwavering enthusiasm for life’s journeys.

Claudette is survived by her three children, Monique Bourque, Ernest Bourque Jr. and his wife Livia, and Marcel Bourque and his wife Jackie; seven grandchildren, Ashlley and Kyle Shadd, Alex, Lauren, Nicole, and Zachary Bourque; and three great-grandchildren, Scarlett, Skyllar, and Adrianna.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Doris Devereau, her brother, Richard Boudreau, and a granddaughter, Allyssa Shadd.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, May 5, 2025, with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Please report directly to the church on the day of the service. Burial will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery, West Street, Gardner, MA.

There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution may be made to the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, United States Province Provincial House, 180 Lowell Road, Hudson, NH 03051. Please reference in memory of Claudette H. Bourque.