ATTLEBORO – Rev. Gerard Boulanger, M.S., 70, a Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette, Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas, died Friday, January 2, 2015 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He was born March 20, 1944 in Holyoke, MA, son of the late Eugene and Blanche (Godaire) Boulanger. After attending Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School in Easthampton, MA, he completed his high school studies at the La Salette Seminary in Enfield, NH and began his seminary studies at the La Salette College Seminary in East Brewster, MA and Altamont, NY. He entered the La Salette Novitiate in Bloomfield, CT in 1966 and made first profession of vows on July 1, 1967 and professed perpetual vows on August 22, 1970 at the La Salette Seminary in Ipswich, MA. After completing his studies at Catholic University in Washington, DC, he was ordained to the priesthood at the La Salette Seminary in Ipswich on May 26, 1973.
After ordination, Fr. Jerry was assigned to teach at the Seminary in Cheshire, CT and the following year, served as spiritual director and professor at the La Salette Seminary in Altamont, NY. In 1975, he was named Associate Pastor at St. James Parish in Danielson, CT. Four years later, he was assigned to the La Salette Shrine in Ipswich, MA where he was appointed Director of the Shrine Residence. From Ipswich, he went on to serve at various parishes in Missouri, Georgia and Connecticut. In 1997, Fr. Boulanger was appointed Co-Pastor/Administrator of St. Mary Parish in Jewett City, CT. In 2001 he was appointed Pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Westfield, MA and in 2006 he was named as Director of the La Salette Shrine in Enfield, NH. In 2008 he was named as Director of the La Salette Shrine in Enfield, NH. In 2008 he was named Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish in Sulphur, LA. Three years later, Fr. Boulanger was named Superior of the La Salette Shrine Community in Attleboro, MA. As Superior, he was noted for his great kindness and caring for his La Salette confreres. In addition to being Superior, he had recently been named Interim Co-Director of the National Shrine in Attleboro. Father was greatly esteemed by his confreres and over the years was asked to represent them at various Provincial meetings and on La Salette committees.
In addition to his La Salette brothers, Father Boulanger is survived by his sisters, Cecile Finn and Eleanor Lussier, and a sister-in-law, Thelma Boulanger as well as many relatives and friends. Father Jerry was pre-deceased by a brother, Donald Boulanger.
A Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at the La Salette Shrine Church in Attleboro. Contributions in Father’s memory may be made to: Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette Retirement Fund, 915 Maple Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114-2330.
A second Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday January 12, 2015 at the Our Lady of The Valley Church, 33 Adams St., Easthampton, MA followed with burial in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Easthampton.
Arrangements entrusted to Sperry & McHoul Funeral Home, 15 Grove Street, North Attleboro.
To sign an online guestbook for Father Jerry, please visit www.sperry-mchoul.com.
