Sister James Bernard Laughnane (Genevieve), 95, beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died at Mont Marie Health Care Center in Holyoke, Mass. on March 10, 2019. A native of Southbridge, Mass., she was the daughter of James and Jessie (Lamoureaux) Laughnane.
Sister James Bernard entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Mary Parish, Southbridge in 1942. She graduated from St. Mary High School, Southbridge. Sister earned a BA degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, and an M.Ed. in education and reading from Boston College.
Sister served in the Diocese of Springfield as a teacher at St. Jerome School, Holyoke, St. Patrick School, Chicopee and Cathedral High School, Springfield. She served as librarian at St. Mary School and Jacob Edwards Library, both in Southbridge and at St. Joseph Academy, St. Augustine, Florida. Sister also taught in the GAL Adult Literacy Program in Ludlow.
In addition to her Sisters in Community, Sister James Bernard is survived by several generations of loving nieces and nephews including Ann Marie Marino, Janice Kennedy and James Bernard Laughnane III.
All services for Sr. James Bernard will take place in St. Joseph Chapel at Mont Marie in Holyoke on Wednesday, March 13, 2019. The wake will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with a prayer service at 10:00 a.m. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Mont Marie Cemetery, Holyoke.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.