Posted July 27, 2020

Sister Lorraine DeViller, S.H.C.J., died May 20 at the age of 92. She was a lifelong educator who enjoyed teaching at the elementary school level. Her patience, joy, and love of God will be remembered by many.

Born and raised in Melrose, Massachusetts, Sister Lorraine spent her first 12 years of schooling at St. Mary School, where she was taught by the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus. Immediately after high school, she entered the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. She made her final vows in 1954 and became well known by her religious name Mother Mary Donald.

Sister Lorraine received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Villanova University in 1956.

During her four decades as a teacher, Sister Lorraine taught at St. James School (1949-1951) and St. Edward School (1987-1993) in Philadelphia, as well as schools in Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon and New York City.

Father Michael Olivere,who worked with Sister Lorraine at St. Edward School in Philadelphia, recalled her as a “dedicated and excellent teacher, always a team player. She always had a smile on her face and was a pleasure to work with.”

When Sister Lorraine was not in the classroom, she served the retired and aging Holy Child Sisters in Rye, New York, or Rosemont. Eventually, she moved to Holy Child Center in Rosemont, where she lived her remaining years.

One of the nurses at Holy Child Center said Sister Lorraine’s hopeful spirit lasted until her final days. “In spite of her illness, Sister Lorraine’s patience prevailed. She spoke to the staff with great encouragement, sometimes even rhyming. Her deep love of God was notable.”

She joins her parents, Rose (Thibeau) and Jerome DeViller, and siblings, Donald Boudreau; Marjorie (Boudreau) Pothier; Warren Boudreau (Barbara); Bernice (Bunnie, DeViller) Fitzgerald; Andrew DeViller (survived by wife Paulette of Malden); and Wilma(DeViller) Whiting in eternal rest. She is survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Society of the Holy Child Jesus – American Province, 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010, or donate online at www.shcj.org/american/donate.