Born in Grand Isle, Maine in 1924, Sister Viola joined the Good Shepherd Sisters with the intention of working with children as a teacher.

Her career took her from being a teacher in northern Maine, to teaching and being a principal in Massachusetts. Her organizational and business skills led her to leadership roles in the world of finance and state regulations.

She retired as the Finance Director of St Andre’s Home in Biddeford after serving there for 33 years. Her contributions include roles on numerous committees and boards. Her passion, through all of these roles, has been a continuous “hands on” role in helping people, especially young women and their children.

Sister VIOLA LAUSIER

INTERVIEW DETAILS

Date of Interview: 11/5/2018
Location: Good Shepherd Sisters Convent, Biddeford Maine
Interviewer: Nicole Morin-Scribner
Transcriber: Liz Mutina

LINK TO INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

SELECTED INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

Personal sacrifices: “I didn’t visit my family for 7 years… And I have a baby sister that was born after I entered the convent. I think she was like 4 years old when I met her.”

• Navigating the world of finance, federal/state regulations and legislators to keep a program alive
• The role of the community in supporting services for unwed mothers
• The evolution of adoption through the years
• Touching stories of individuals touched by the services offered by St Andre’s Home
• “I really enjoyed all the 33 years (worked at Good Shepherd Home). I was in finance but, I was always helping the birth mothers.”

DEMOGRAPHICS

Birthplace: Grand Isle, Maine
Education: Lincoln School, Grand Isle Maine
Dominican College, Racine Wisconsin
Ethnic Identification: Franco-American

PICTURES AND ADDITIONAL INFO