Sister Mary Bisson (Margaret Arthur), (1/19/1943), beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in Newport, Rhode Island on March 5, 2025. A native of Newport, Sister was the daughter of George and Mary (Martin) Bisson.
Sister Mary entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Augustin Parish, Newport in 1964. She was graduated from St. Catherine Academy, Newport. She earned a B.A. degree from Salve Regina College, Newport.
Sister taught at St. Joseph High School, Pittsfield; Sacred Heart and Bishop Keough High Schools, Pawtucket, RI; and St. Xavier (High School) Academy and St. Mary’s School, Providence. She was co-founder and co-director of the Providence Learning Center. She worked in agriculture at Stonewall Stand Farm and Maplewood Farm. She also worked at Our Sister’s Place as a women’s advocate and a family advocate for People, Inc. in Fall River, MA. Sr. Mary volunteered in several agencies, among them Hospice of Rhode Island, Chad Brown Housing Project and South Providence Neighborhood Ministries. She also received many awards: Jefferson Award in 1990, Community Progress Award, Cunningham Award and the Salve Regina University Distinguished Alumna Award in 1996.
In addition to her Sisters in community, Sister Mary leaves her sister, Michele Andrade (Victor) of Newport, RI, several nieces and nephews many of whom reside in Texas, a former brother-in-law, David Groark of Texas, and a dear friend, Sr. Margaret Carey, RSM and several other relatives and friends of Newport RI and Springfield, Mass. She was predeceased by her parents, Mary and George Bisson, and a sister, Margaretta Bisson Groark.
Services for Sr. Mary will take place in Holyoke, MA and Newport, RI. In Holyoke, services will be at Mont Marie Senior Residence, Meditation Room. Sister’s wake will be Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. followed immediately with a prayer service at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Mont Marie Cemetery, Holyoke, MA. In Newport, services will be at Salve Regina University on April 19, 2025, at 11 am.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.