Cecile Provencher: 2010 Franco-American of the Year

Sun, The (Lowell, MA)

June 26, 2010
Section: News

Local

Church music the passion of Franco American of the Year

The Lowell Sun

By Nancye Tuttle ntuttle@lowellsun.com

LOWELL -- Cecile Provencher only spoke French until she started elementary school. She grew up loving the music and liturgy in Lowell's French-Canadian churches. Today, she dedicates herself to preserving the French language, music and customs in her many activities.

Last Sunday, Provencher was rewarded for her commitment to her heritage when she was named Franco-American of the Year at the Franco-American Week breakfast in the Immaculate Conception School.

"It's quite an honor, and I was very pleased," Provencher said yesterday, chatting in her office at the Franco-American School, where she is bookkeeper.

A Lowell native, Provencher, 65, grew up in a strong French-Canadian family with her parents, Arthur and Flore Provencher, and three older stepbrothers, all deceased.

"My mother married my father, whose first wife had died, when they were 40. They'd come from Canada to work in the mills. We spoke French at home and it's all I spoke until I went to St. Joseph's Elementary School," she said.

She went to St. Joseph's High School, Lowell Tech and University of Lowell, where she earned a bachelor's degree in business. In 1962, she entered the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa, serving in the community until 1986 and working many years in the office of the old St. Joseph's Hospital.

Her mother was active in Franco-American organizations. Provencher followed suit and participates in the Ladies Guild at D'Youville Senior Care, Cercle Jeanne Mance and Royal Arcanum Assurance, which she serves as secretary. She is the webmaster for The Franco-Americans in Lowell, Massachusetts, an online community hosted by UMass Lowell and edited by Albert Cote. She is also on the Franco-American Week committee.

Church music is her passion -- especially French church music and the accompanying liturgy.

She is organist for three weekly Masses at St. Rita's Church and plays organ at St. Kathryn's in Hudson, N.H. She arranges music and liturgy for French Masses in the fall and spring at Cercle Jeanne Mance.

Her full-time job and many activities keep Provencher busy, with little time for hobbies.

"My music and French-Canadian groups are my hobbies," she said.

Provencher considers herself a behind-the-scenes player.

"I do stuff in the background -- paper pushing is my strong point," she said.

She encourages others to get involved with French-Canadian activities Lowell.

"We love people to come to events -- it's important to preserve the culture and language," she said.

Franco-American Week ends today with a free concert by Franco-American songstress Josee Vachon at the Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway St., from 6-8 p.m. Open to public.