PHOENIX, Ariz. – Sister Marie Sylvie Pare, OP (Lucille Pare) died June 3, at Boswell Hospital, surrounded by members of her religious community and close friends.

She was born on Oct. 3, 1923, in Lewiston, the daughter of Cyrille and Aurore (Lessard) Pare. She was educated at the Ave Maria Academy in Sabattus, and before entering the Dominican community she was employed at the Maine Baking Co. and the Lewiston Gas Co.

She entered the Dominican Sisters as a postulant in Mortefontaine, France, on Sept. 7, 1950, at the age of 27. Sister Sylvie remained in Mortefontaine for the remainder of her religious formation years, making her temporary vows on Aug. 30, 1952, and her final vows on Aug. 30, 1956.

She began her professional studies in 1953, and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Paris.

After returning to the United States in 1959, she continued her studies at Boston University, where she received her master’s degree. During her years as a Dominican sister, she was an educator wherever she was assigned. Her assignments after returning from France were in Lewiston, Brookline, Mass., and then to Arizona, where she has spent the last 40 years. She is one of the founders of the Phoenix community. While in Arizona, her teaching ministry brought her to Phoenix, Tucson, and Tempe, then back to Phoenix, where she most recently resided.

During the past 40 years she completed her studies by obtaining a Ph.D. in French from the University of Arizona-Phoenix in 1974, and by sharing her gift as an educator. Teaching God’s Word was a passion in her life and she spread this word with adults from various parishes in the Tucson and Phoenix dioceses.

She also taught for several years at Kino Institute, which was the adult education center for the Diocese of Phoenix. She was a “student” at heart in the spirit of the Dominican Order. She read constantly and loved literature, history, the study of Scripture and the church. She was always very conscious of her call as a Dominican sister and living it in the spirit and the charisma of the founder, St. Dominic. Throughout her years in religious life, she served the community in various leadership positions as prioress or treasurer.

She is survived by four brothers, Louis, and his wife, Nancy, from Brewer, Jean Thomas, and his wife, Penny, from Lewiston, Andre, and his wife, Mariette, from Lewiston and the Rev. Paul Pare from North Vassalboro; four sisters, Patricia Camire from Lewiston, Madeleine Roy from Lewiston, Marguerite Roy, and her husband, Dr. Raynald Roy, from Auburn and Louise Pare from Lewiston; many nieces and nephews; as well as the members of her Dominican religious community.

She was predeceased by her parents; and two half-brothers, Cyrille and Clifford Pare.