Sister Gertrude Gaudette papers, 1922 - 2016

Sub-Series — file_cabinet: 2

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Record Group: This collection contains records from all the sisters who make up the DSOH. It includes their personal papers, publications, artistic work, photographs, diplomas, ministry history etc. The Dominican Sisters of Hope were founded in 1995. The group includes members of the former Newburgh Domincan, Fall River Dominican and Ossining Dominican Communities. The sisters work and minister in various ways including community organizing, social work, education, environmental advocacy, and retreat ministry.

Dates

1922 - 2016

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted Access. Users have unrestricted access to documents unless stated otherwise.

Biographical / Historical

Sister Gertrude was born Gertrude Gaudette on January 26, 1922 in Acushnet, MA. She entered the Fall River Congregation on December 8, 1945 and received the habit on December 7, 1946 when she received the religious name, Sister Louis Bertrand. (She began using the name, Sister Gertrude after Vatican II). She pronounced first vows on December 8, 1947 and final vows on December 8, 1950. During her years in the congregation she served in the following schools: Dominican Academy elementary, 1947-1948; St. Francis Xavier, Acushnet,1948-1949; and St. Anne, Fall River, MA,1949-1950. In 1950, she began teaching again at Dominican Academy, first at the elementary level, then at the secondary level beginning in 1962. She served Dominican Academy as moderator of the alumnae association, Dominilog (the DA yearbook), and the sodality. Sister also served the Dominican Sisters of Fall River as local treasurer, secretary general, and as a member of the general council. Sister Gertrude taught art and photography at Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth, MA, 1973-1983. In 1983, she opened the Creativity Center at the motherhouse on Park Street in Fall River and remained there until 2002, when the convent closed and then moved to the Landmark at Fall River. While there, she conducted classes for residents and others who had participated in her classes over the years. Sister Gertrude was gifted with a multitude of talents, which she has used generously at the service of others throughout her religious life. She built shrines to the Blessed Mother, painted, renovated, and divided or built rooms in the convent and school, and remodeled the altar and sanctuary of the motherhouse chapel twice. She is a photographer, and once had her own dark room at the motherhouse. She led a high school camera club for Dominican Academy. As a woodcarver she carved a coat of arms for five diocesan bishops, and won numerous awards for her carvings at several shows, earning her a number of ribbons and the “best of show” for at least a few of her works. She designed the stations of the cross which hung in the chapel at the Motherhouse in Fall River, as well as many other works. Sister Gertrude earned a BA in Art History and Social Studies from Regis College and an MFA from Catholic University. She also studied photography, ceramics, sculpture, and jewelry making at Plattsburgh State University. She died November 3, 2016.