Marlborough MA: Saturday, July 20, Sister Norma Ethier, (92) (Sister M. Martha) a Sister of St. Anne died at Alliance at Marie Esther, following a decline in health. Her funeral will be held on July 29 at 10:00 am in St. Anne Chapel at Alliance in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Marlborough.

Born in Pittsfield MA, Sister Norma was one of three children born to Benjamin W. Ethier, Sr. and Julia (Cuik) Ethier.

Following her High School graduation from St. Joseph’s High in Pittsfield, MA, she worked for General Electric and began studies at Anna Maria College where she met the Sisters of St. Anne for the first time.

Over time, the attraction of a religious life, led her in 1959 to join the Sisters of St Anne in Lachine, Quebec Canada and she pronounced vows in 1962.  At the time of her death, she had celebrated more than 60 years of faithful, vowed religious life as a Sister of St. Anne.

As she began her ministry years following vows, she was recognized as an excellent educator and administrator.  Following her taking of vows, she spent many years in Quebec, teaching at secondary school levels and as an administrator in several similar schools.  She continued her studies in higher educations and earned a BA degree from Anna Maria College, an ME in education from the University of Maine in Orono, Maine and Chemistry License and Certification from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Later she was assigned to the United States and served as principal and teacher in Bradenton Florida, Ludlow, MA, Weymouth, MA, Brockton, MA. 

At the request of the Congregation, she accepted to serve a brief assignment time in service in our mission in Yaoundé, the Cameroon in Africa. At the end of her long and successful career in education, before taking up residence in Marlborough, Sister Norma did Parish Ministry and Social Services in the Scituate MA areas.

Sister Norma leaves to grieve her family of the Sisters of St. Anne, her niece Paula Grossi-DePoalo and grand-nephews Ben and Paul Corriveau and their families and several cousins.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Collins Funeral Home (www.CollinsFuneral.com), 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Anne, 720 Boston Post Road East, Marlborough, MA 01752 or to a charity of your choice.