Sister Yvette Thibault

Sister Yvette Thibault, CSC (Sister Mary Louis des Carmes) passed away on August 15, 2026 at Holy Cross Health Center in Manchester, New Hampshire. She was born in Winooski, Vermont on July 8, 1930 to Louis and Cécile (Lanoue) Thibault. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Cross in 1951 and pronounced her final vows on August 15, 1958.

A life that was to be filled to the brim and overflowing with faith, fervor, zest and zeal was the gift given to the Louis and Cécile Thibault couple in the birth of Yvette, the first of their ten children. Early on, this young couple saw their teenager Yvette willingly engaged in learning and practicing the rudiments of small business ventures. On a property the family had purchased could be found an 8-room motel, 8 cabins, a restaurant, a variety store and a gas station. When not cooking in the restaurant or cleaning cabins and rooms, she could be seen pumping gas, wiping windshields, or driving a bus. Eventually, she ran the variety store. Her generous smile and outgoing personality were undoubtedly authentic promotional pluses for all these businesses. When she learned of a need for help with teaching the little ones in the local parish school, she gave all the time she could to that while continuing to contribute to her family’s work.

Sister Yvette’s numerous extended family members included “the seven Thibault Sisters” who, through the years, had joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Cross. After carefully and prayerfully considering various alternatives, she herself answered the call to become a Sister of Holy Cross. And in her own words: “I’ve never looked back; it was the right choice for me.”

The same faith, fervor, zest, and zeal that characterized her youth radiated throughout her years of generous service in Holy Cross. Faithfulness to prayer, with a very special devotion to Our Lady, was simply part--an essential part--of everyday life for her. Faithfulness, too, to her family, both her many siblings and her extended family, as well as faithfulness to all her sisters in the Holy Cross family was deeply important to her. And every Holy Cross companion, both in community and in ministry, can vouch for the fact that zest and zeal marked Sister Yvette’s way of being. Throughout her many years of ministry, whether as primary grade teacher for eight years, as cook in various Holy Cross houses for a total of nearly thirty years, as hair stylist for twelve years, or as driver and general aide for many a time and years, Sister Yvette radiated that spark and joy that said in her own way: “Do you not know that I am about my Father’s business?”.

Sister Yvette was predeceased by three brothers: Louis, Bernard and Richard as well as by two sisters: Liliane and Jeanne. Three living sisters: Rita Dufresne, Helene Martin, and Alice L’Ecuyer, as well as her brother Victor mourn now her passing. She leaves a large Holy Cross family of Sisters as well very numerous and loving nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; and great grandnieces and nephews as well, all of whom she faithfully carried in heart and prayer.

A time of Remembrance and Prayer for Sister Yvette Thibault is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The “Celebration of Life” prayer itself will begin at 10:00 AM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 PM on the same day: August 26, 2026. All services will take place in the chapel of St. George Manor at 357 Island Pond Road in Manchester, NH.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sisters of Holy Cross Development Office and mailed to 365 Island Pond Road, Manchester, NH 03109. Lambert Funeral Home and Crematory, Manchester, NH is assisting with arrangements. www.LambertFuneralHome.com