Sr. Patricia St. Hillaire, CSC

Sister Patricia St. Hilaire (Sister Mary of St. Hilaire), a Sister of Holy Cross, died peacefully at the Holy Cross Health Center in Manchester, NH on June 18, 2026 at the age of 101.

Born in Adams, Massachusetts to William and Lillian (Paradis) St. Hilaire on April 19, 2025, Sr. Patricia entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Cross in 1944 and pronounced her perpetual vows in 1951.

The St. Hilaire’s were a very close-knit, deeply Christian family in which parents and nine siblings all shared proudly and willingly in the work, play, and prayer of daily family life. All stood up for each other. As an identical twin, Patricia remembered times when, if she was scolded, her twin would cry; and if her twin was scolded, she was the one who cried. In the joys and pains of daily life, having each other’s back was standard family procedure. It was simply the right and good thing to do.

Patricia loved school as well as her teachers from the very start. She soon aspired to become a teacher herself. Two aunts were members of a religious congregation. Early in her teen years, Patricia herself felt called to religious life. Faithful to her family’s spirit, she worked industriously in a cotton mill whenever she could during high school years. Then she worked at General Electric so as to contribute to her family by earning herself the money needed to pay the dowry young women were expected to offer at that time when being admitted to enter a religious congregation. She entered the Congregation of Holy Cross at age 19.

Patricia, now Sr. Mary of St. Hilaire, was back to loving school. She was now herself the teacher she had long aspired to become. For the next forty-six years, she taught primary school children in several New England states. Her favorite memories are of teaching little ones to pray and preparing them for their first Holy Communion. Even in her elder years in parish ministry, Patricia was well known for faithfulness to prayer, whether in parish life, community life, or in her personal life. Prayer intentions were readily and willingly entrusted to her. She came to be lovingly known as a “Prayer Warrior”.

 Sr. Patricia was predeceased by her parents and eight siblings. At age101 and living far from Adams, MA, she was faithfully and fondly being remembered by relatives and friends through visits, cards, and phone calls. On Thursday, July 2, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, a wake has been scheduled during which time the Holy Cross Community will celebrate the life of Sr. Patricia. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 3, 2026. Both services will take place in the chapel of St. George Manor at 357 Island Pond Road in Manchester, NH.

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of Holy Cross Development Office and mailed to 365 Island Pond Road, Manchester NH 03109. 

Lambert Funeral Home and Crematory, Manchester, NH is assisting with arrangements.