Obituary: Morisette, Rev. Alfred L., S.J.
Age 83
Alfred L., S.J.
Fr.
Al Morisette, SJ, died January 19, 2014, in the Jesuit House Infirmary at Gonzaga University.
Fr.
Al spent more than forty years educating, counseling, and mentoring students, faculty and staff at Gonzaga University.
And yet as an avid outdoors man, he could be found hiking and climbing hills and mountains as time allowed.
The eldest of four siblings, Alfred Louis Morisette was born in Tacoma, on August 22, 1930, to Alfred and Helen (Berilla) Morisette.
After graduating from Bellarmine Prep he entered the Jesuit Novitiate at Sheridan, Oregon in August 1948.
Following the regular course of studies Al was ordained a priest on June 17, 1961, in Spokane.
Attracted to higher education, Fr.
Al spent his entire priestly career at Gonzaga University doing a variety of works.
His love of the French language led him to complete a MA from the University of Laval, Quebec City, and then teach it in the classroom for several years.
Fr.
Al was also called to administrative duties: he was Foreign Student Advisor, Chair of Modern Languages, Superior of Jesuit scholastics working on graduate degrees, Director of Freshman counseling (New Start Program), Admissions Counselor, Director of Studies Abroad, Associate Director of the Student Academic Center, and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Fr.
Al’s integrity, spirituality, and warmth of personality plus his depth of knowledge of many subjects allowed him to assist numerous people in their hopes, dreams, fears and burdens.
Fr.
Morisette was preceded in death by his sister, JoAnn Spencer.
He is survived by two younger sisters, Mary Lou Lachowsky and Carolyn Jenkins.
There are many nephews and nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces, cousins, as well as his brother Jesuits of the Oregon Province who will greatly miss him.
The family wishes to thank their “adopted” family members, Ed and Roberta Willey, for their love and care of Fr.
Al these many years.
A vigil service will be held at 7pm, Thursday, January 23, in the Jesuit House Chapel, Gonzaga University, and the funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am, Friday, January 24, at St. Aloysius Church.
Burial will follow at the Oregon Province Cemetery.
Contributions in honor of Fr.
Morisette may be sent to The Senior Fund, c/o The Oregon Province Society of Jesus (PO Box 86010, Portland, OR 97286) and/or to The Fr.
Al Morisette, SJ, Endowed Scholarship (c/o Gonzaga University, 502 East Boone Ave., Spokane, WA 99258).
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ball and Dodd Funeral Home, 5100 W. Wellesley Ave, Spokane, WA 99205.