Donat J. Daigle

BRO. DONAT J. DAIGLE, OMI
MISSIONARY OBLATE BROTHER FOR 48 YEARS


Bro. Donat J. Daigle, OMI, 79, died at Blair House, Tewksbury, MA on December 4, 2010 after a lengthy illness. He was born in Lowell, MA on September 4, 1931, a son of the late Wilfred and Cecile (Morrissette) Daigle.

Bro. Donat entered the Oblate Novitiate in Colebrook, NH on October 31, 1953 and made his first vows there on November 1, 1954. He professed perpetual vows on November 1, 1960 in Bucksport, ME.

Inspired by the example of his uncle, Fr. Donat Morissette, OMI, he began studies at Bucksport, ME, but as time went on, he realized his talents were drawing him to the life of a brother rather than a priest. At the end of his novitiate, in 1958, his first assignment was to the maintenance team at the Bucksport seminary. He remained there for 20 years, faithful to his tasks, even serving as custodian after it closed and until the premises was sold in 1977.

Following Bucksport he was assigned briefly to Immaculata Retreat House, Willimantic, CT. He then joined with Bro. Paul Ricard, OMI to form a mobile team in 1979. They were given a van and the tools needed for repairs and minor construction. They traveled the province, saving the Oblates thousands of dollars.

Bro. Daigle served at the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace, Colebrook, NH, Ephpheta House, Manvill, RI, and Our Lady of Good Counsel House, Lowell, MA. From 1981 to 1985 he was on the staff of the Oblate Seminary in Natick, MA while serving two terms as a provincial council member. He was the first Oblate brother to be a member of the Provincial Council. In September of 1984, he returned to the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace in Colebrook and was the first Oblate brother to be appointed superior of a Northern Province Oblate Community. He served three terms as superior in Colebrook, and stayed on for one more year as treasurer.

In 1993, he was assigned to the staff at the St. Paul Center in Augusta, ME. The work that the maintenance team did there was extensive and very professional. He also served as treasurer and assistant to the superior. In 1997, this property was transferred to the Diocese of Portland, ME and he remained there until February of 1998 to close the center after many years of service to the Catholic community of Maine.

Bro. Donat joined the staff at the Immaculata Retreat House for a second time in March of 1998. He then returned to Colebrook, NH in April of 2006. He remained until fall of 2010, when due to failing health, he was assigned to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence in Tewksbury, MA.

Bro. Donat is survived by three sisters and a brother in law, Theresa and Antoine Pelletier, Agnes (Edmund, deceased) Breton, Fernande (Philip, deceased) Champagne and a sister in law, Doris Daigle, all of Lowell. He is survived as well by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one brother, George.

Memorials: Donations in memory of Br. Daigle may be made to the Oblate Infirmary Fund, 486 Chandler Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876-2849.