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Molly (Mary Chafee) Harrington
GREENVILLE, R.I. — Molly (Mary Chafee) Harrington, 89, died peacefully Sept. 26, 2024, at The Village at Waterman Lake in Greenville.
Born April 26, 1935, to Dr. Francis H. Chafee and his wife Jane Chafee of Providence, Molly graduated from Walnut Hill School in Natick, Mass. She earned her bachelor’s in English from Vassar College in 1957, and pursued some post-graduate education at Brown University before meeting and marrying the love of her life, Carroll, on July 11, 1959, a marriage that lasted more than 65 years.
Together, they purchased Country Corner Farm on Long Entry Road in Chepachet in November, 1961. There, they raised beef cows, chickens, sheep, ducks, cats, and at one time, a goat. Molly embraced farm life with enthusiasm.
She also raised four children, Nathan, Hayley, Chris, and Alex, and was a second mother to many more, including several neighborhood children and five exchange students from Japan and Germany, studying an academic year in America. There was always room at the table for another place setting, and Molly, an excellent cook, could brew up an army of food and make it look easy.
Additionally, Molly worked at the Golden Lamb Buttery, a four-star restaurant in Brooklyn, for 25 years. To say she waitressed would be an understatement of the welcome and comfort she provided customers, who requested her again and again for her joyful demeanor.
She also learned the art of bookbinding, and volunteered her time binding books at the Providence Athenaeum for many years. For 35 years she was also the chairperson of the donations committee for the Mary Dexter Chafee Fund, and found immense satisfaction in this charitable work.
Molly was also involved locally, including helping to form the Glocester Heritage Society, of which she was president for a short time, and with the Glocester Recreation Commission. She and Carroll also took to bicycling, and Molly completed the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen 100-mile “Century” ride in 1981. Later on she and Carroll would take their energies toward the White Mountains of New Hampshire, hiking many mountains and visiting every hut.
Molly was also an avid sewer, watercolor artist, and gardener. She and Carroll planted up to 1000 daffodils every autumn in the field across from their farmhouse, drawing awe from passersby as they bloomed each April.
She leaves her husband, Carroll S. Harrington of Greenville; daughter Hayley C. and son-in-law David S. Robinson of Jamestown, R.I., son Christopher C. Harrington of Japan; daughter Alexandra H. and son-in-law William P. Pepin of Lincoln, R.I., and grandsons Michael E. Robinson and his wife Holly S., Noah T. Robinson, Joshua D. Robinson, Neil J. Pepin, and Jack C. Pepin. She is predeceased by her brothers, Richard S. Chafee and Nathanial Chafee, and son Nathan S. Harrington.
Burial will be private. Donations: Harmony Library, 195 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, RI 02814. For messages of condolence, please visit www.andersonwinfield.net.
Sr. Marie Gertrude Laliberté, DHS
WINDHAM — Sr. Marie Gertrude Laliberté, 97, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died Oct. 31, 2024, at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham.
Born in Upton, Quebec, Canada on Sept. 14, 1927, Marie Pierrette Germaine was the fifth of 11 children of Raoul and Maria (Coté) Laliberté. The family immigrated to Connecticut in 1929. She entered religious life in 1947 and made her religious profession in August of 1948, taking the name Sr. Marie Gertrude. This name was difficult for a young student and she became known informally as Sr. McGert.
She received her bachelor’s in education from Annhurst College and a master’s in education from Boston College. She taught or was principal in several schools in Connecticut and was a school supervisor out of the Diocesan School Office in Hartford for 2 years. Within the congregation, Sr. McGert served as Provincial Councilor, Community Superior and Directress of Novices. In 1985 she moved to San Francisco where she was CCD coordinator.
In 1986, following a time of study in San Antonio, Texas of the Spanish language and culture, Sr. McGert followed her heart’s desire and was missioned to Antofagasta, Chile, to serve as a pastoral presence to the people there for 15 years. Returning to the U.S., she began a volunteer ministry with her beloved Hispanic people in Hartford especially at Maria Sanchez School. She retired in 2016 and joined the community at St. Joseph Living Center in 2021.
Sr. Marie Gertrude leaves the Daughters of the Holy Spirit spiritual family – her Sisters in community, the Consecrated Seculars and Associates; her sister Sr. Fernande Laliberté, DHS; nieces and nephews and their children. She was predeceased by her brothers Jean Gilles, Germain, Henry and Marcel and her sisters Muriel, Laurianne, Aldea, Alice and Gertrude.
Visitation is at 10 a.m. Nov. 6 at Corpus Christi Parish/ St Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St., Willimantic, with a prayer service at 10:15 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. followed by burial in St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam at 2:30 p.m. Donations: DHS Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 497, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Valade Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
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