Sister Denise Turcotte
1946 – 2020
MANCHESTER, NH - Sr. Denise Turcotte (Sr. Jerome of the Cross, CSC) passed away December 12, 2020 at the age of 74. She was born in Springfield, MA on February 25, 1946, the daughter of Jerome and Lucille (Ouimette) Turcotte. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Cross in 1963 and pronounced her final vows in 1971. Sr. Denise was an elementary school teacher in MA and CT. In 1970 she received her BA in Biology from Notre Dame College in Manchester, NH where from 1970 to 1999 she ministered at NDC as Biology Instructor, Associate Professor of Biology and Campus Minister. In 1980, Sr. Denise received an MS Degree in Environmental Education at Antioch University. She also ministered at the Audubon Society as Teacher, Youth Garden Coordinator and Adult Education. In 2006, she became co-coordinator at New Dawn Earth Center, Mercy Northeast Ecology Ministry, Cumberland, RI, and in 2007 she became the Director. Sr. Denise also provided programs in Environmental Concerns and Cosmology at Berakah: A Place of Blessing in Pittsfield, NH. To know Sr. Denise is to know that degrees and accomplishments have always been less important than her love of nature, kayaking, walking in the woods, and working in the Green Space on Island Pond Road. But her greatest joy was to discover an eagle's nest and watch for the eaglets' growth and fledglings to take flight. As you leave us, Sr. Denise, we know you are being lifted up on eagles' wings. Sr. Denise was predeceased by her parents. Surviving family members include her sister, Helene and her husband, Richie; her four nephews, Andy and Brendan Halley, Rick and JJ Kagan and their spouses; and grand nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at a later date. Private burial will be in St. Augustin Cemetery, Manchester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of Holy Cross Development Fund, 365 Island Pond Road, Manchester, NH 03109. Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting with her arrangements.