NATICK: Anna M. (Gaudet) Frechette, age 97, a longtime Natick resident, died peacefully after a complete and happy life on Saturday morning, August 31, 2013, at Bethany Health Care Center in Framingham. At the time of his death in 2003, Anna had been the devoted wife of Charles E. Frechette for 59 years.
Born in Shediac, New Brunswick, Canada, on December 18, 1915, she was one of the ten children of Francois and Marie (LeBlanc) Gaudet. The Gaudet family later settled in Massachusetts and Anna was primarily raised and educated in Waltham. She and Charlie were married in 1943, and after the war, the couple created a warm and loving home in Natick for their growing family.
Anna was employed in the administrative offices of Pope John XXIII Seminary in Weston and later for many years in the Registrar’s Office at Regis College. She was a parishioner and daily Communicant of St. Linus Church where she cherished her role as an Extraordinary Minister, sharing her love and the Eucharist with the sick and elderly. After their retirement, Anna and Charlie wintered in Vero Beach, Florida, and particularly enjoyed traveling throughout the country to visit family. At heart a wife, mother, and grandmother, Anna was happiest when in the company of family and friends, perhaps playing a game or two of Bridge.
She is survived by four sons, the Rev. Paul F. Frechette, SM, of Boston, Daniel E. Frechette of Silver City, NM, Charles E. Frechette of Sedro Woolley, WA, and Edward G. Frechette of Albuquerque, NM; a daughter, Mary Ann Cahill and her husband Edward of Northborough; six grandchildren, 1stLT. Owen Cahill, USMC, Meghan Cahill of RI, Connor Cahill of Northborough, Jesse Frechette of OR, Noemi Frechette of WA, and Ashley Frechette of NM; and many nieces and nephews. Anna was predeceased by her five brothers, Ovide Gaudet, the Rev. Marcel Gaudet, Camille Gaudet, Antoine “Tony” Gaudet, and the Rev. Alfred Gaudet; and four sisters, Alma Gaudet, Melina Chiasson, Maria Begin, and Rita Simeone.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by her son, the Rev. Paul F. Frechette, SM, in Saint Linus Church, 119 Hartford Street, Natick, on Wednesday, Sept. 4th at 11:00A.M. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick Cemetery. Visiting hours at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, will be on Tuesday 5 – 8P.M.
Donations may be made in Anna’s memory to Bethany Health Care Center, 97 Bethany Road, Framingham, MA 01702, or St. Linus Church, 119 Hartford Street, Natick, MA 01760.