Irene Bechard PM

Born in Lowell, MA on December 15, 1914, she was the daughter of Laurent and Bernadette (Clouette) Bechard. She entered the order of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary in 1932, made her first profession in 1935 and her final profession in 1940.

She earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in French from Rivier College in Nashua, NH. She later studied at the Sorbonne Institute of Phonetics in Paris, France and at Middlebury College in Vermont.

Sr. Bechard taught at elementary schools in Canada at St. Cesaire, Stanhope and Farnham and in Concord, NH. She later taught at junior high schools in Rhode Island at Phenix and Artic. She was a member of the founding faculty of Our Lady of the Mountains Academy in Gorham, NH.

She was a professor in the French Department at Rivier College for 21 years and taught for the NDEA French Program during the summer sessions. In retirement, she was a part-time receptionist at the administration building. In 1990, she was made Professor Emerita by the board of trustees.

Sr. Bechard was a member of the Federation Feminine Franco-Americaine and participated at the 10th Congress of the Association in Montreal, Quebec.

The family includes cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday June 5, 2007 in the Resurrection Chapel. Burial was in Presentation of Mary Cemetery, Hudson, NH

Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, Manchester, NH was in charge of arrangements.