Sister Bette Gould (Helen Charles), 75, beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, in her 57th year of religious life, died in Holyoke on June 26, 2014. A native of North Adams, Mass., she was the daughter of Charles and Helen (Toohey) Gould.
Sister Bette entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Francis Parish in North Adams. She graduated from St. Joseph High School, North Adams and earned an A.B. degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, Mass. She earned an M.A. Ed. from Assumption College, Worcester and an M.A. in Pastoral Studies and Theology from Loyola University, Chicago.
Sister served as superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Springfield from 1984 to 2005. Previous to that, she ministered in the schools of the Diocese as a teacher at Holy Trinity, Greenfield and Blessed Sacrament, Holyoke; as both teacher and later principal at St. Joseph High School, North Adams; principal at St. Joseph High School, Pittsfield, and as principal at Our Lady of Hope School, Springfield. She worked at the Christian Education Center in Springfield and as curriculum coordinator for the Diocese of Springfield. In 2005, Sr. Bette began her ministry at East Catholic High School, Manchester Conn. serving for two years as interim principal and until very recently as coordinator of the school’s mentoring program. Sister also served as a Police Commissioner for the city of Springfield, Mass. from 1993 to 1995.
In addition to her Sisters in Community, she is survived by her sister, Helene Gajda of North Adams, her brother John Gould of Williamstown, Mass. and several nieces and nephews. Sister was predeceased by her brother Richard Gould of Adams, Mass.