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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Marceau, Loretta Marie, Sp

Age 98


MARCEAU,
Loretta
Marie, SP

Sr. Loretta Marie Marceau, SP, died on Friday, September 14, 2012, at 10:15 pm at Mount St. Joseph, Spokane, Washington at 98 years of age, after 74 years as a Sister of Providence.

Vigil Service: Thursday, September 20, 2012, 7:00 pm, at Mount St. Joseph, 12 W. 9th Avenue, Spokane, WA.

Funeral Mass: Friday, September 21, 2012, 10:30 am, same location.

Burial: Holy Cross Cemetery, Spokane, WA, 1:30 pm.

Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home, Spokane, WA, is in charge of the arrangements.


She was born on August 10, 1914, to ZÄ‚Ĺ phire O. Marceau and Angelina (Bourdeau) Marceau, in Missoula, MT.

Her birth name was Ida Mae Loretta Marceau but she officially changed her name to Loretta Marie Marceau in 1988.

She was the ninth of eleven children, with four sisters and six brothers.

She attended schools in Missoula and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, Missoula, MT., in 1932.


She entered the Sisters of Providence on August 27, 1938, in Seattle, made her first profession on February 28, 1940, and her final vows February 28, 1943.

As a Sister of Providence, she celebrated her Golden Jubilee (50 yrs) in 1988, her Diamond Jubilee (60 yrs) in 1998, and her Ruby Jubilee (70 yrs) in 2008.

Her niece and namesake, Ida Mae Marceau, is also a Sister of Providence.


Sr. Loretta Marie’s academic accomplishments included: College of Great Falls (now known as University of Great Falls), Great Falls, MT.

- B.S., Accounting (Cum Laude), with a minor in Psychology, 1960, and University of Omaha, 1961.

She also attended Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA., Kinman Business University, Spokane, WA.

; Modern Business College, Missoula, MT.

; Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana; Washington State University, and Montana State University, A.H.A., C.H.A.
Her ministry assignments included: Bookkeeping, Columbus Hospital, Great Falls, MT., 1940-44; Bookkeeping, St. Patrick Hospital, Missoula, MT., 1944-49; Controller, Sacred Heart Hospital (now Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center), Spokane, WA., 1949-60; Provincial Treasurer, Provincial Administration, Sisters of Providence, Spokane, WA., 1961-74, 1981-87, Financial Consultant, 1987-88, Development Director, 1989-2002; Director of Finance, St. Mary Hospital (now Medical Center), Walla Walla, WA., 1974-76; College of Great Falls, Great Falls, MT., 1977-81.

Her final ministry was as Development Director for the former St. Ignatius Province, raising just short of $2 million in a decade.


Over the years Sr. Loretta Marie received numerous academic honors: Fellow of the American Association of Hospital Accountants (AAHA), with life membership in the organization; member of accountants - 52 Club; second and first vice president of AAHA, 1959-60; AAHA President in 1960; Board of Directors’ Award, Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), of which she was a life member and a former national president.
She published several articles, spoke at state and national meetings of AAHA, conducted workshops and institutes, and provided individual training and assistance.

She served on numerous boards, including: chair of the Washington State Hospital Employees Health and Welfare Board, 1958-59; director of the Washington Conference of the Catholic Hospital (now Health) Association, and former Treasurer and Secretary of this organization; member of the Washington State Hospital Association of Western Hospitals, and Montana Blue Cross Board, 1944-49, secretary, 1945.


In 2006, a limited edition medallion, which featured a likeness of Sister Loretta Marie, was presented to her in honor of her compassionate service to the women of Hope House in Spokane, WA.


In October 2001, she traveled to Rome for the beatification of the Sisters of Providence foundress, Blessed Emilie Gamelin, with a group of other sisters and received a papal blessing from Pope John Paul II.


Sr.

Loretta Marie retired in 2002 to join other retired sisters at Mount St. Joseph, Spokane, WA.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her siblings.

She is survived by her niece, Sister Ida Mae Marceau, Spokane, WA.

; nephew, William A. Longpre, Missoula, MT.

; sister-in-law, Mrs. Wallace Marceau (Mary), Missoula, MT; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.


Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016.


To view Sr. Loretta Marie’s obituary and picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to