DR. PAULA E. PLOURDE
FORT FAIRFIELD & PRESQUE ISLE

Fort Fairfield & Presque Isle – Dr. Paula E. Plourde, 94, passed away unexpectedly, Wednesday April 5, 2023 at her Presque Isle home. She was born August 6, 1928 in Tobique Narrows, New Brunswick, the daughter of Agnus and Elizabeth (Murphy) Plourde.

After graduating from Pond’s Business College in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Paula entered Teacher’s College in the Province of Quebec. She received her superior teaching certificate at Ste. Rose Du Degelis Normal School, Quebec, then entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Rosary in Rimouski, Quebec.

She began her teaching career at St. Martin of Tours High School in Millinocket, Maine. She continued her education in the United States by obtaining a B.A. in English and History from St. Joseph College in Standish, then continued for a M.A. in English at Boston College. In the meantime, she taught in Millinocket and was the last Principal of St. Martin of Tours High School before it finally closed. She taught religion classes in Kittery and then became supervisor of Catholic Secondary Schools in Maine with superintendents Mgr. Armand Cyr and Mgr. Charles Murphy.

She applied for and obtained a Ford Foundation Grant to study Successful Teacher Behavior in the classroom. She traveled to Oregon, California, Texas, Tennessee, and Florida for this study and obtained her Ed. D. from Temple University in Philadelphia. Paula taught for fifteen years in Ocean City High School, Ocean City, New Jersey, where she was chairperson of the English and Foreign Language Departments having supervision of twenty-four teachers in that school. Evenings were devoted to teaching reading and English to students at Atlantic Community College as Associate Professor.

After moving to Norridgewock, Maine she completed forty-one years in education with four years of teaching in Waterville High School, Waterville, Maine. In retirement, she was active in RCIA at St. Sebastian Parish in Madison, Maine. She also served as Eucharistic Minister and Catechist. She became President of Somerset Retired Teachers Association and Vice President of the Maine Retired Teachers Association. She was also a member of Somerset Triad.

After suffering a heart attack and other health issues, she sold her home in Norridgewock and moved to Fort Fairfield, Maine, to be closer to family members. There she became a member of the Parish of the Precious Blood, served as a RCIA member, and a Daughter of Isabella, Santa Maria Circle No. 427, Fort Fairfield.

Predeceased by her parents and sisters, Maudie Elizabeth Sylvia Rattray, Margaret Mary Grant, Shirley Louise McIntosh; her brother, George Frederick Plourde; and special friend, Connie McMullan. She is survived by several nieces and nephews in Maine, New Brunswick, and England, with special reference to Carolyn Chandler-Campbell who was her caregiver and very special niece and her husband Peter of Caribou.

Friends may call Wednesday, April 12, 2023 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 144 Main Street, Fort Fairfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday April 12, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Parish of the Precious Blood, St. Denis Catholic Church, 147 Main Street, Fort Fairfield. A time of continued fellowship with refreshments will follow the Mass at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Council No. 1753, 260 Main Street, Fort Fairfield. Interment will take place at a later date at the St. Sebastian Rasle Cemetery, Madison. Those who wish may contribute in memory of Paula to the St. Denis Memorial Fund, c/o Parish of the Precious Blood, P.O. Box 625, Caribou, Maine 04736. Envelopes will be available at the service. Online condolences may be expressed at www.gibersondorseyfuneralhome.com .