Brother Denis G. Bessette

Obituary

Brother Denis G. Bessette, S.C.

September 5, 1945-June 9, 2017

Brother Denis G. Bessette, S.C., 71, of the Watling Community of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart at St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, died after a brief illness on June 9, 2017, at Hospice of St. Francis in Berkhamsted, England.  Born in Woonsocket, RI he was the son of the late Wilbrod Bessette and Eva Maria (Lacroix) Besette. 

Brother Denis entered the Brothers of the Sacred Heart June 29, 1958 at Harrisville, Rhode Island. He pronounced his first vows at Harrisville in 1962 and his perpetual vows at Mt. St. Charles Academy, Woonsocket, RI, in 1968.   In 2012, he celebrated his Fiftieth Anniversary of Religious Profession.

Brother Denis completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at St. Michael’s College in Winooski, Vermont in 1969. 

Brother Denis served in assignments as a teacher in New England at Sacred Heart Academy, Central Falls, RI, and as a teacher, boarding prefect, and cook at Sacred Heart School, Andover, Massachusetts.  After completing sabbatical studies in Albano, Italy, he served as Assistant Novice Director and Provincial Secretary in Pascoag, RI.  In 1982, he began a lengthy term as secretary to two of the Order’s Superiors General in Rome, Italy.  From 1994 to the present, he served as Registrar at St. Columba’s College, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England.

Brother Denis enjoyed studying sacred scripture, church history, and visiting the numerous churches in the city of Rome during his stay there.   

Brother Denis is survived by his sisters, Judy Braun and her husband Manfred of Webster, MA, Suzanne Tomasso, and his brothers Raymond and his wife Anita Bessette of Wolfeboro, NH, Richard Bessette of S. Windsor, CT, and Robert and his wife Mary Bessette of Slatersville, RI.  

The wake will be held at the Brothers of the Sacred Heart Retirement Center, 685 Steere Farm Road, Pascoag, RI, Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 9:00 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial in the Chapel of the retirement center in Pascoag at 10:30 a.m.    Burial will be in the Brothers' Cemetery in Pascoag.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Brother Denis’ memory can be made to the Brothers of the Sacred Heart Retirement Fund, Brothers of the Sacred Heart, 685 Steere Farm Road, Pascoag, RI  02859.

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