Sister Claire Michel Fortier

Sister Claire Michel Fortier, SCSL of Victory Place Senior Community in Plattsburgh, NY was called to her heavenly home on December 16, 2025. She passed away at CVPH. The second child of three, she was born Marie Olive Fortier on May 25, 1932 to Ovila and Jeannette (Roy) Fortier in Berlin, New Hampshire. Both her parents, her sister Jeannette Hillman, and her brother-in-law John Hillman predeceased her.

She attended grade school in Berlin, NH and then Waterbury Catholic High School in Waterbury, CT. The family then moved to Oakville, CT where Sister Claire worked for four years in the office and factory for Autoyre Co., in Oakville and met the Sisters of Charity of Saint Louis who were in St. Mary’s Parish in Oakville. In 1956 she entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Louis in Levis, Quebec, spent some time out in Western Canada, and made her First Profession on August 22, 1958 and her Final Profession on August 22, 1963 at St. Joseph’s Novitiate in Cheshire, CT. Sister Claire obtained her Bachelor of Science Ed. from St. Rose in Albany, NY and a Certificate of Qualification from the State Ed. Department. She obtained Certification in Religion from the Bridgeport Diocese and went for a Spiritual Renewal Program at Niagara Falls, NY.

Sister Claire was missioned and taught in schools in Brookfield, CT, and in Plattsburgh and Keeseville, NY. She was also Superior at St. Joseph’s Convent in Brookfield, CT and at OLV Convent in Plattsburgh. After her teaching career in the primary grades, she happily volunteered at OLV Clothing Store.

In February of 2014, Sister Claire underwent surgeries due to several fractures from a fall and since then she has been completely retired, but continued visiting the sick Sisters of Charity of Saint Louis in nursing homes.

Sister Claire spent her last years of retirement at Victory Place Senior Community.

Sister Claire Michel Fortier is survived by her sister, Sister Mary Francis Fortier, a cloistered Dominican Nun in North Guilford, CT. She is survived by one niece and two nephews, one great niece and three great nephews, and aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is also survived by her Religious Community, the Sisters of Charity of Saint Louis.

A great deal of thanks to Dr. Gilbert Desmangles and nurse Morgan Bennet, who spent many hours with Sister in her passing.

Calling hours will be at Our Lady of Victory Church in Plattsburgh, NY on Saturday December 20, 2025 from 9:00am to 10:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial with follow at 10:00 am, burial will be later next year at St. Peter's Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

Arraignments are with the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh, NY.