Sister Cecile Lafond (formerly known as Sister St. Veronique), 93, beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield for 75 years, died in Mont Marie Health Care Center, Holyoke, on July 8, 2013. She was born in Fall River, Mass., the daughter of Rodolphe and Florestina (Lavellee) Lafond.
Sister Cecile entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Fall River from St. Matthew Parish, Fall River. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Fall River merged with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield in 1974. She was graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, Fall River and earned a B.A. degree from Rivier College, Nashua, N.H and a M.A. degree from Assumption College, Worcester, MA. She was awarded a fellowship by the French government for one year’s study in Paris; she was also awarded a Fulbright travel grant by the United States government. She studied at I’Institut Catholique and the Sorbonne, Paris, France. Sister also did graduate work at Tufts University and the University of Ottawa, Canada.
Sister Cecile taught in the Diocese of Fall River at St. Jean Baptiste and Blessed Sacrament Schools, Fall River and St. Michael School, Swansea, Mass. For many years she was an instructor at St. Joseph Prep and St. Joseph Teachers’ Institute in Fall River. She served as librarian and instructor at Divine Heart Seminary, Donaldson, Texas in the early seventies. She was on the administrative staff of St. Louis School, Webster, Mass. Sister joined St. Joseph Residence at Mont Marie in 1992 where she was the coordinator of the Retirement and Formation libraries.