Obituaries

Rev. Alfred Jacques

Rev. Alfred Jacques, 93, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026, in Farmington. He was born in Caribou on December 23, 1932, the son of Alfred Sr. and Cecile (Ouellette) Jacques.

Father Jacques was educated in Skowhegan and attended St. Francis High School, followed by college studies in Biddeford. After completing his clerical studies at the Grand Seminary in Montreal, Quebec, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1960, by Bishop Daniel Feeney at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

Throughout his priestly ministry, he served as a parochial vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Fairfield; Holy Rosary in Caribou; St. Martin of Tours in Millinocket; St. Hyacinth in Westbrook; and Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours in Waterville. He later served as pastor of St. Louis Parish in Limestone from 1973 to 1977, after which he began a leave of absence from priestly ministry.

During his leave of absence, Father Jacques devoted himself to service in another capacity, building an Intermediate Care Facility and opening three group homes for adults with physical and mental disabilities. He later returned to the Diocese of Portland, serving on the Diocesan Tribunal from 1987 to 1994 and as personnel director for the Chancery from 1992 to 1994.

On July 1, 1994, he was appointed parochial vicar of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Lewiston, and in June 1995

,he became pastor of Ss. Athanasius and John Parish in Rumford. In addition, he served as pastor of St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus Parish in Mexico and St. Joseph Mission in Dixfield from 2002 to 2004. Over the years, he also served on the Diocesan Priests Council, Personnel Board, and School Board.

Father Jacques retired from full-time priestly ministry in 2004 but continued to serve part-time wherever needed, especially during the summer months. He made his home in Skowhegan near his sister, Della Kyes, living in one of her apartments, and spent his winters in Florida.

He deeply loved his family and enjoyed time with his nieces, nephews, and friends, both clergy and lay. He especially cherished family reunions and gatherings with fellow priests. His interests included alpine and water skiing, golfing, reading, photography, and travel throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Funeral Services

A prayer service for Father Jacques will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 4 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 11 a.m. Both services will take place at Notre Dame Church, 273 Water Street, Skowhegan. A reception will be held after the Funeral Mass at Somerset Valley Remembrance Center, 19 Washburn Lane in Skowhegan.

Sister Theresa Couture, SCIM

Please join in praying for the repose of the soul of Sister Theresa B. Couture, a Good Shepherd Sister of Quebec, who died at St. Joseph Convent in Biddeford on November 25, 2025. Sister Theresa was 93 years old.

Sister Theresa was born in Lewiston on November 9, 1932, to Romeo Couture and Blanche Poirier. She attended St. Peter School and St. Dominic High School in Lewiston, and following graduation, she entered the Roman Congregation of St. Dominic in Mortefontaine, France. She studied at L'Alliance Francaise in Paris, France, and then, after her profession, at Regina Mundi in Rome, Italy. She then returned to the United States.

In 1973, Sr. Theresa had a second religious calling and joined the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Saco, Maine, more commonly known as the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec. Her ministries included teaching, campus ministry, school administration, social work, gerontology, correctional education in a Maine prison, and adult education in Biddeford, from which she retired. She then became like a mother and grandmother to immigrant families. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., at St. Joseph Convent, 409 Pool Road, Biddeford. A funeral Mass will celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Convent, 409 Pool Street in Biddeford. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Biddeford.

Father Raymond Morency

Please join in praying for the repose of the soul of Father Raymond P. Morency, a priest of the Diocese of Portland who died on November 25, 2025, at the age of 75.

Born in 1949 to Roger and Doris (Landry) Morency, Father Morency was a native of Lewiston. He attended Lewiston High School and then earned an associate's degree from the University of Maine and a bachelor’s degree from Thomas College in Waterville before serving in the U.S. Army for three years, which included deployment to Vietnam.

After the military, he served as personnel manager at Portland Stove Foundry and later with North Anson Reel Co. before entering St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 24, 1987, at Holy Cross Church in Lewiston by Bishop Edward C. O’Leary. 

Father Morency's pastoral assignments included St. André Parish in Biddeford, St. Augustine Parish in Augusta, Holy Rosary Parish in Caribou, and St. James the Great Parish in Baileyville.

In 1995, Father Morency accepted a commission to return to active duty as a U.S. Army chaplain for three years, serving in South Carolina.

After returning to the diocese, he served at Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in Oquossoc, St. Anne Parish in Dexter, St. Agnes Parish in Pittsfield, and the churches, which were then-parishes, that now comprise the Parish of the Precious Blood in Caribou.

He retired from active ministry on July 1, 2015.

Funeral Services

A reception of the Body with the Office of the Dead will be held on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 4 p.m., followed by visitation from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street in Lewiston. And again on Friday, December 12, from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. when a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated.

Sister Kathleen Thornton, RSM

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Kathleen (Miriam Cecilia) Thornton, RSM, who died on November 12, 2025, at the age of 88.

Born in Worcester, Mass., she was the daughter of George and Agnes Morrison Thornton. After graduating from Keene High School in Keene, N.H., she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Portland in 1954.

Sister Kathleen received a Bachelor of Arts degree in higher education from Saint Joseph’s College in Standish and then pursued studies at Pius X School of Liturgical Music in New York City and at Boston University.

After several years of elementary school teaching, she became the music supervisor for parochial schools in Portland, South Portland, and Westbrook. Sister Kathleen also gave private piano lessons to children as well as adults. She always looked forward to singing in the Portland Symphony Orchestra Choir, especially during the Magic of Christmas performance.

Sister Kathleen was also a composer, most notably composing her Concerto in G Minor, a piano composition for a solo instrument. She also had an avid love for writing and a unique artistry in calligraphy and design. In addition to possessing three copyrights for musical works, she had one copyright for an original watercolor.

During her years in retirement, Sister Kathleen devoted her time to prayer and visitations, while living at Deering Pavilionfra, Frances Warde Convent, St. Joseph’s Convent in Biddeford, and Gorham House in Gorham.  

Funeral Services:

Prayer and Visitation; Thursday, November 20, 9:15 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street in Portland

Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, November 20, 10 a.m., at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street in Portland.

Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.

Sister Mary Jo Divney, APB

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Mary Jo Divney, APB, who died September 12, 2025, at the age of 82.

A graduate of Cathedral High School in Portland, she entered the Sister Adorers of the Precious Blood Monastery in Portland in August 1961. She professed her final vows in November 1964.

The monastery, located on State Street, was a cloistered contemplative community, where the sisters prayed for intentions, for people who had no one to pray for them, and for priests. Sister Mary Jo initiated the Apostolate of Prayer for Priests, a calendar of prayer prepared by the sisters that continues in the Diocese of Portland to this day. There were 40 dioceses that sent their priests names to the sisters to have calendars made for them.

Sister Mary Jo was the superior of the community for many years and was also an active board member of the Federation of America of Precious Blood and was president for several terms.

She loved to cook and could often be found in the kitchen baking new and old recipes. 

In October 2018, the monastery in Portland closed, and the sisters moved to the Precious Blood Monastery in Manchester, New Hampshire.