SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Rita Marie Gaudreau completed her journey here on earth and entered into her eternal reward on June 12, in San Diego.

Her life began on April 27, 1931, in Howland, the second daughter of Edward and Louise Gaudreau. She grew up in Maine and lived there until 1981, when she moved to San Diego, Calif., where she lived until the time of her death.

She was educated in Howland public schools and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Jackman in 1948. She received her bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Rose in Albany, N.Y., and her master’s degree in education from Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

In 1948 she entered the religious community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon, France and took the religious name, Sister Marcelle of Jesus. While in the community, she served the people of South Berwick at the Academy of St. Joseph, Lewiston at Holy Family Parish, Farmington as Newman minister at the University of of Maine and Auburn at Sacred Heart School and St. Joseph Kindergarten, where she was director until her departure for California in 1981. In San Diego she taught for the San Diego Community College District, until her retirement in 1994.

She was loved by the many students she served and will be remembered as a fair and dedicated teacher. Her love of poetry and music will never be forgotten by all who had the pleasure of hearing her sing and her talent was shared as she directed the ASJ Choir during her time at the academy.

She had a passion for equality and social justice and was active in the community social justice activities. This passion remained evident throughout her life as she taught each student without discrimination and treated everyone with fairness and dignity.

She will be deeply missed by her friend and long-time companion, Rita Eldridge; her dear aunt, Virginia Beland of Lewiston; her brothers and sisters, Marcelle Smith and Lorraine McCarthy of San Diego, Calif., Carmen Gilbert of Troy, Mich., Donald Gaudreau of Hermon and Gerald Gaudreau of Foxborough, Mass.; brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.