Obituary: Sr. Jeannette Bolduc, CND

Sr. Jeannette built a distinguished academic career in New York, spending over two decades as a professor of psychology and eventually chairing the department at Iona College
Sr. Jeannette Bolduc, a member of the Congregation of Notre Dame, has entered eternal life at Mosaic Senior Life in Bridgeport, Conn., at the age of 94.
Born in Jackman, Maine, Sr. Jeannette was the daughter of Alice and Hormidas Bolduc. She had three siblings: Gerard, Theresa, and Roland. Sister completed her elementary and secondary education at Mt. St. Joseph School in St. Johnsbury, Vt., in 1950. Sr. Jeannette professed her first vows as a Sister of the Congregation of Notre Dame on Aug. 23, 1956. Before entering the Congregation of Notre Dame, Jeannette served in the United States Navy and received an honorable discharge. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Notre Dame College, Staten Island, in 1954. She continued her studies, earning a master’s degree from Fordham University in 1962 and a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1972.
Sr. Jeannette was a woman deeply committed not only to her family and CND Sisters but also to her students and colleagues. She was a professor of psychology for over 20 years, both at Notre Dame College of Staten Island and Iona College. In 1978, Sister Jeannette was appointed chairperson of the Department of Psychology at Iona College, New Rochelle.
In 1984, Jeannette began her 32-year ministry in Central America. After studying Spanish in Mexico, she served in CND missions in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Paraguay. Her ministry as a pastoral associate in several cities and countries over the years enabled her to be directly engaged with the spiritual and everyday life of the parishioners. In 1990, she was appointed to accompany the CND sisters in temporary vows. She was their teacher and mentor as they deepened their commitment to religious life in the CND.
In 2016, Jeannette returned to the United States and began a ministry with the Spanish-speaking parishioners of St. Louis Parish in West Haven, Conn. Jeannette retired in 2023 after a multifaceted journey as teacher, mentor, and spiritual companion.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alice and Hormidas, and her sister and brothers, Gerard, Theresa, and Roland, and her nephew, Jeffrey. She is survived by her nieces, Cecilia and Janice, and her nephews, Steven and Mark. Sr. Jeannette is mourned by her community, the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Norwalk, Conn., on Thursday, July 30, at 10 a.m. The celebrant is Father Victor Martin. There will be a viewing at 9:30 a.m. before the liturgy. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Danbury, Conn.

Facts Only

* Sr. Jeannette Bolduc entered eternal life at Mosaic Senior Life in Bridgeport, Conn., at age 94.
* She was born in Jackman, Maine, to Alice and Hormidas Bolduc.
* Her siblings were Gerard, Theresa, and Roland; she was also preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and nephew Jeffrey.
* She completed elementary and secondary education at Mt. St. Joseph School in St. Johnsbury, Vt., in 1950.
* She professed her first vows as a Sister of the Congregation of Notre Dame on August 23, 1956.
* She served in the United States Navy and received an honorable discharge.
* She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Notre Dame College, Staten Island, in 1954.
* She earned a master’s degree from Fordham University in 1962.
* She earned a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1972.
* She was a professor of psychology for over 20 years at Notre Dame College of Staten Island and Iona College.
* In 1978, she was appointed chairperson of the Department of Psychology at Iona College.
* In 1984, she began ministry in Central America, serving in CND missions in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Paraguay.
* In 1990, she was appointed to accompany CND sisters in temporary vows.
* She retired in 2023.

Executive Summary

Sr. Jeannette Bolduc, a member of the Congregation of Notre Dame, passed away at Mosaic Senior Life in Bridgeport, Conn., at the age of 94. She was born in Jackman, Maine, to Alice and Hormidas Bolduc, and was survived by her parents, siblings, and nephew. Prior to entering the Congregation of Notre Dame, she served in the United States Navy. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Notre Dame College in 1954, followed by a master’s degree from Fordham University in 1962, and a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1972.
Sr. Jeannette maintained a significant academic career, serving as a professor of psychology for over twenty years at Notre Dame College of Staten Island and Iona College, culminating in her appointment as chairperson of the Department of Psychology at Iona College in 1978. Her later life involved extensive ministry; starting in 1984, she ministered in Central America across Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Paraguay, and served as a pastoral associate. In 1990, she accompanied CND sisters in temporary vows as their teacher and mentor. Following her return to the United States in 2016, she engaged in ministry with Spanish-speaking parishioners of St. Louis Parish in West Haven, Conn., before retiring in 2023.

Full Take

The narrative presents a trajectory defined by sustained commitment across disparate fields: rigorous academia, military service, religious vocation, and extensive international pastoral ministry. The structure emphasizes a consistent theme of mentorship and spiritual accompaniment throughout her life, shifting focus from formal teaching roles to direct spiritual engagement in various communities, both domestically and internationally. This pattern suggests an underlying resilience demonstrated in adapting to profound life transitions—from establishing a career in psychology to pursuing service in Central America and then mentoring religious sisters. The juxtaposition of high-level intellectual achievement with deep humanitarian commitment prompts inquiry into how different forms of service intersect and reinforce one another. The emphasis on being a teacher and mentor, both academically and spiritually, suggests that agency is often found not in singular achievements but in the sustained capacity to bridge knowledge and lived experience across contexts. What assumptions about the relationship between professional attainment and spiritual fulfillment are embedded in this presentation? What are the implicit costs of these multifaceted commitments for an individual, and how do institutions (like the CND) frame such holistic legacies?